Who should get tested?
Current U.S. CDC guidance indicates you should get tested for COVID-19:
- If you have symptoms, test immediately.
- If you were exposed to COVID-19 and do not have symptoms wait at least 5 full days after your exposure before testing. If you test too early, you may be more likely to get an inaccurate result.
- If you are in certain high-risk settings, you may need to test as part of a screening testing program.
- Consider testing before contact with someone at high risk for severe COVID-19, especially if you are in an area with a medium or high COVID-19 Community Level.
What to do if you test positive
If you've tested positive and have symptoms, follow US CDC guidance.
Treatments to prevent severe disease are available. If you're at high risk for severe disease, treatment within the first 5 days of symptoms is important even if you only have mild symptoms right now.
Types of COVID-19 Tests
Rapid Antigen Tests
Antigen tests, also called rapid tests, detect specific proteins on the surface of the coronavirus.
- Rapid antigen tests are best for individuals experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or those who have been exposed to COVID-19.
- Results of rapid antigen tests may be available in as little as 15 to 45 minutes.
- Rapid antigen tests are currently used in doctors’ offices, nursing homes, schools, congregate-care settings, and workplaces, as well as at-home self-collected tests.
- You do not need to confirm a positive rapid antigen test with a PCR test.
- Please see below for important information about taking at-home self-collected rapid antigen tests.
PCR Tests
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests detect viral RNA, or the genetic material of the virus and are considered a gold standard for the detection of COVID-19.
- PCR tests can detect infection in both symptomatic and asymptomatic people.
- PCR tests are always processed in a laboratory, which means the results will typically take between 24-72 hours.
- Specimen collection can be conducted by a health care provider or through a self-collection process.
- Samples for PCR tests are typically taken from saliva or nose swabs.
At-Home Self Testing
At-home rapid antigen tests use a self-collection process, unless the individual is very young, in which case a parent or guardian can collect the sample.
All steps in these tests are performed at home and require a sample from inside the nose or a saliva sample.
A positive at-home test should be taken as confirmation of infection. It is not necessary to confirm a positive at-home test with a PCR test.
If you've tested positive and have symptoms, follow US CDC guidance.
Treatments to prevent severe disease are available. If you're at high risk for severe disease, treatment within the first 5 days of symptoms is important even if you only have mild symptoms right now.
Important information about at-home testing:
- At-home tests are used to detect a current infection.
- All instructions for performing the test must be followed.
- At-home tests can be used by anyone who is symptomatic.
- At home tests remain stable when stored at various temperature but should only be used at room temperature.
- The expiration dates for many rapid at-home tests have been extended. To find out if the expiration date for the test you are using has been extended consult the FDA list of authorized tests for more information.
How can I get an at-home test?
- At-home tests can be purchased over the counter without a prescription at pharmacies, retail stores, or online retailers.
- Those with private insurance may be reimbursed for the cost at-home test kits. Contact your health insurance company for more information.
- MaineCare members and parents of children covered by CubCare can obtain free at-home test kits at retail pharmacies that accept MaineCare. To use MaineCare benefits you must check out at the pharmacy counter with proof of MaineCare or CubCare coverage.
- Households can order one free at-home test kit containing four individual tests from covidtests.gov.