Following a positive COVID-19 test from an employee at your place of work, is important to determine which employees may have been exposed to the virus and may need to take additional precautions. Instruct any potentially exposed employees to stay home for 14 days, telework if possible, and self-monitor for symptoms. As for the space, wait 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting to minimize the potential for other employees to be exposed. Moving forward, follow the CDC guidelines to best decrease the spread of COVID-19 and lower the impact in your workplace.

I tested positive for COVID-19, now what?

If you tested positive for COVID-19, it is important to take measures to both protect yourself and prevent others from contracting the virus. At all times, keep an open dialogue with your healthcare provider and monitor your symptoms. If at any time your symptoms become severe, check in with your provider and call 911 in the case of an emergency. Make sure to get plenty of rest, hydrate, and take medication as needed to alleviate pain and help reduce a fever. Even if you do not have symptoms, it is recommended that you self-isolate for at least 10 days after you first tested positive. The decision to stop home isolation should be left up to healthcare providers and local health authorities. Once you have successfully recovered, you may consider donating your plasma in order to help current and future COVID-19 patients. You can donate plasma at the RedCross, and thefightisinus.org.

Is COVID testing covered by insurance?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), together with the Departments of Labor and the Treasury, have issued guidance requiring group and individual health insurance to cover both COVID-19 diagnostic and antibody testing with no cost sharing to patients. That being said, your health insurance plan may have a list of approved facilities for testing, so make sure to check in order to avoid out-of-pocket costs.

Blog Timeline

From latest to oldest

2 years ago | gotthetest Team

So, is OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard going to go into effect or not?

Read

2 years ago | gotthetest Team

Don’t want OSHA to come knocking on your business’s door? “Fit For Work” reports ensure your complaint with Biden’s vaccine-or-test mandate

Read

2 years ago | gotthetest Team

Federal court temporarily blocks Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine-or-test mandate: Now what?

Read

2 years ago | gotthetest Team

Businesses have until after the holidays to implement the COVID vaccine-or-test mandate

Read

2 years ago | gotthetest Team

Biden’s COVID vaccine-or-test mandate is here

Read

2 years ago | gotthetest Team

I’ve had the Covid-19 virus, should I get vaccinated?

Read

2 years ago | gotthetest Team

Four strategies to cope with Covid rage

Read

3 years ago | gotthetest Team

Covid-19 booster shots: What we know about booster shots up to this point

Read

3 years ago | gotthetest Team

Take an evaluation of your work-from-home set up in 5 steps

Read

3 years ago | gotthetest Team

I’m an employee at a business with 100+ workers: How does Biden’s new Covid-19 mandate affect me?

Read

Join Us

Frequently Asked

What kinds of testing are offered for COVID-19?

Currently, there are two main types of testing offered. Serology, or blood tests, look for antibodies in the blood from the body’s immune response to infection. There are various markers at different stages of infection. Molecular, or swab tests look for actual RNA material from the virus itself and can measure the amount of viral load. The molecular tests indicate whether you currently have an infection, while the serology tests indicate if you previously had an infection.

What is an antibody test?

The COVID-19 antibody test is an immune response blood test. This type of test detects antibodies that show if you have already been exposed to and produced an immune response to COVID-19—even if you never experienced any symptoms. Previous exposure means you may now have some level of immunity to the virus, but that immunity isn’t guaranteed, and it is still unknown for what period of time it might last. Understanding your immune response gives you and your doctor the information you need to assist in making an informed decision about returning to work or activity.

How does the antibody test work?

A health care professional takes a blood sample, usually by drawing blood from a vein in the arm or from a capillary blood in the skin, most often a finger prick. The sample is tested to determine whether you’ve developed antibodies against the virus. The immune system produces these antibodies — proteins that are critical for fighting and clearing out the virus.

When is antibody testing done and why is it important?

The timing and type of antibody test affects accuracy. Early in the course of infection, when the immune response is still building up in your body, the test may not detect antibodies, and could give a negative result reading for antibody markers. In order to get the most meaningful results, the antibody tests are best if you wait a full three weeks after the start of your illness.

Which antibody tests have been authorized for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the FDA?

For a complete list, please refer to the FDA EUA Test Kit Manufacturers and Commercial Laboratories Table, which is updated by the FDA daily. Under the Emergency Use Authorization, tests can be used in laboratories and at Point of Care settings once the manufacturer has validated its test and notified the FDA of its planned use. At any point the FDA may revoke the explicit or implied authorization for any reason, typically because it finds test data unreliable for medical use. No COVID-19 tests are currently APPROVED by the FDA, only AUTHORIZED for use. Our healthcare providers consistently vet and explore available testing options allowed by the FDA per the EUA, seeking convenient, yet accurate testing methods for various stages of exposure or possible infection.

What does the antibody test reveal?

Antibody tests reveal one of three results No protective antibodies present. This usually means an individual has not had exposure to the virus or pathogen. (There are some immunocompromised individuals that can’t adequately produce antibodies but have had exposure.) Recently exposed–currently developing antibodies. Exposed and recovering or recovered–protective antibodies present.

What is a swab test?

A “swab” test helps to diagnose whether you currently have an active COVID-19 infection. A nasopharyngeal swab is taken through a patient’s nose from the back of the throat and can be slightly unpleasant. Newer tests can also take samples from saliva in the mouth and throat, or from the nose. If you are currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or were exposed to the virus in the last 14 days, swab tests detect actual RNA material from the virus itself.

How can antibody testing help reduce the spread of COVID-19?

As screening becomes widely available for the general population, results from antibody tests will indicate how many people have contracted or been exposed to COVID-19 in a community, including those who didn’t show any symptoms. This aids in determining what percentage of the population has been exposed, and who might have immunity. This data can then be used to potentially alert communities to an increase in infection in their area. Over time, this data will help improve strategies to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

Which antibody tests have been authorized for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the FDA?

What does the antibody test reveal?

Antibody tests reveal one of three results; No protective antibodies present. This usually means an individual has not had exposure to the virus or pathogen. (There are some immunocompromised individuals that can’t adequately produce antibodies but have had exposure.) Recently exposed–currently developing antibodies. Exposed and recovering or recovered–protective antibodies present.

What is a swab test?

How can antibody testing help reduce the spread of COVID-19?