COVID 19 and Testing

What is Covid-19?

The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID-19. The virus can cause mild to severe respiratory illness and has spread globally, including in the United States. The current information available to characterize the spectrum of a clinical illness associated with COVID-19 suggests that symptoms include cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell. The results, along with other information, can help your healthcare provider make informed recommendations about your care. The results of this test may help limit the spread of COVID-19 to your family and others in your community.

What does it mean if I have a Positive test result?

If you have a positive test result, it is very likely that you now have or have had COVID-19. IgM positive means you have or recently had the virus and IgG positive means you have had the virus. If your test results are IgM positive, you should consult your healthcare provider immediately and consider quarantine. You should also schedule another test with us in 14 days. If your test results are IgG positive, that indicates you were infected and have recovered. We encourage you to help others by sharing your plasma.

What does it mean if I have a Negative test result?

A negative test result means that the virus that causes COVID-19 was not found in your sample. We encourage everyone to schedule a test at least once a month until the pandemic is under control. However, it is possible for this test to give a negative result that is incorrect (false negative) in some people with COVID-19. This means that you could possibly still have COVID-19 even though the test result is negative. If this is the case, your healthcare provider will consider the test result together with all other aspects of your medical history (such as symptoms, possible exposures, and geographical location of places you have recently traveled) in deciding how to care for you. It is important that you work with your healthcare provider to help you understand the next steps you should take.

Is this test FDA-approved or cleared?

The USFDA makes tests available under an emergency access mechanism called an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The EUA for this test is supported by the Secretary of Health and Human Service’s (HHS’s) declaration that circumstances exist to justify the emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for the detection and/or diagnosis of the virus that causes COVID-19. This EUA will remain in effect (meaning this test can be used) for the duration of the COVID-19 declaration justifying emergency of IVDs unless it is terminated or revoked by FDA (after which the test may no longer be used.)

For the most up to date information on COVID-19 please visit the CDC Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) webpage at

“As the world-wide pandemic continues, we thought it would be a good idea to provide a free COVID poster for your home or office. Feel free to print as many as you want so we can continue our fight together to make our homes, churches, offices, schools, clinics, and all other places safer for everyone.”