Coronavirus: Experiencing COVID-19 symptoms but testing negative? Know what it means

With new emerging variants, COVID-19 has taken a milder turn, but is more transmissible. Many continue to fall sick, experience debilitating symptoms that sometimes last for weeks and months after recovery.

But what has created a lot of confusion in the past and in today's time is the prevalence of negative test results even with COVID-19-associated symptoms. It would be an entirely different situation if the cases were surging, but now that things are calmer and cases milder, do our symptoms really indicate COVID or are the test results just false? Let us find out...

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The first sign of infection are its symptoms. Given that the SARs-CoV-2 virus is a respiratory illness, it can lead to symptoms ranging from a fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, runny nose, loss of sense of smell and taste and body pain to severe symptoms including shortness of breath, chest pain, breathlessness and low blood oxygen levels in the body.

Having a combination of these symptoms can indicate you have COVID-19. However, it is not that simple. Many other respiratory infections including common cold, the flu or hay fever are linked to similar symptoms, which can be extremely confusing. This is why experts recommend getting yourself tested immediately.

But what if you have all these symptoms but your results tell a different story?

Getting a negative test result could mean a lot of things. One reason behind it could be a false negative.

The accuracy of COVID-19 testing depends on several factors including the type of test you get and how efficiently the sample was collected.

Two of the widely known testing methods include a rapid antigen test (RAT) or a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which is denoted as the gold standard for detecting the virus in the body. While a rapid test delivers prompt results, it has a higher chance of giving a false negative. However, an RT PCR test takes longer to deliver results, but is said to be more accurate.

But note that false negatives are also possible with RT PCR testing, which usually occurs when the test samples are not collected properly from the nose or the throat. Furthermore if the virus is still in its developing stage, the test may show a false negative.

Newer strains have emerged time and again with more agility and greater determination to spread.

Some have been severe (Delta), while others like the Omicron variant have taken a milder turn. However, reports in the past have suggested that the new variants and its sub-variants may have the ability to dodge testing.

The positive news is that there is no strong evidence to suggest the same. Internationally renowned specialist in pediatric and infectious disease care and research Gerald W. Fischer, MD says, “There is no current evidence that a new variant is spreading that is not detectable by FDA authorized tests,” as reported by the Forbes.

“Molecular surveillance, including next generation sequencing, continues to monitor changes to the virus to ensure that current tests remain accurate," he adds.

If you have got an RT PCR test, if the samples were collected accurately, and still tested negative, this could also mean that your illness is something other than COVID-19.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can share a likeness to symptoms of other respiratory illnesses including common, cold, flu or a seasonal allergy. Sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, fever, cough, body aches and pains are common symptoms associated with most respiratory infections.

So how can you differentiate between the illnesses? Look out for severity, the risk of which is higher with a coronavirus infection, incubation period, which can range from 1-14 days for COVID,1 to 4 days for flu and 1-3 days for a common cold. In addition, watch out for other unusual symptoms that are key to COVID-19, like loss of sense of smell and taste.

As discussed, an RT PCR test is the most accurate and reliable testing method for COVID-19. Rapid tests can also help you detect the virus, however, it may not be as accurate. If you want a prompt result, it may be your go-to testing method.

Yes!

Vaccination is one of the best protective shields against the SARs-CoV-2 virus. Although breakthrough infections are still prevalent and with new emerging variants, cases of reinfections have increased, getting yourself vaccinated or boosted still plays a significant role in preventing the disease.

Respiratory infections in general can be prevented with the help of face masks, by maintaining social distancing and proper hand hygiene. If you are sick, make sure you steer clear of people who fall in the high risk category. Cover your face while coughing, sneezing or talking, especially if you have symptoms.

In the case of COVID-19 and flu infections, vaccines are of utmost importance.