When to get covid tested?

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Specializes in LPN.

A friend of mine got exposed to covid-19 on October 31st (this friend went to a halloween party....sigh). 

When should they get tested? I've heard different people say 1) to get tested ASAP or 2) wait 5 days (just in case for false negative) - get tested again after 14 days just in case of a false negative? 

I know they should get tested regardless but when are the appropriate dates? 

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33 minutes ago, jakrob123 said:

A friend of mine got exposed to covid-19 on October 31st (this friend went to a halloween party....sigh). 

When should they get tested? I've heard different people say 1) to get tested ASAP or 2) wait 5 days (just in case for false negative) - get tested again after 14 days just in case of a false negative? 

I know they should get tested regardless but when are the appropriate dates? 

For what purpose, exactly?

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Specializes in school nurse.

They should be quarantining for 14 days. Testing is more accurate 5 days after the exposure. If they test negative and develop no symptoms, they should continue and complete the quarantine but wouldn't have to contact their close contacts to tell them that they've been exposed. 

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Why do they need to get tested?

18 hours ago, Jedrnurse said:

They should be quarantining for 14 days.

^ This.

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Specializes in School nursing.
On 11/3/2020 at 2:16 AM, Jedrnurse said:

They should be quarantining for 14 days. Testing is more accurate 5 days after the exposure. If they test negative and develop no symptoms, they should continue and complete the quarantine but wouldn't have to contact their close contacts to tell them that they've been exposed. 

^This.

If a person knows they were a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID, the first step is quarantine at home.

Call your doctor if you need a referral for testing. Testing is more accurate 5 days after exposure, so patience is warranted, but even if negative, prepare to hunker down for 14 days since the exposure. 

The testing is helpful at day 5 because if they were to get COVID, this is when the viral load is usually best detectable. This test can help determine if one needs to look further into your friend's path after the party to see if there are other close contacts that now need to quarantine. 

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