How can I get tested for a past infection (antibody test) and what does my test mean?

Antibody tests for COVID-19 are available through healthcare providers and laboratories. Check with your healthcare provider to see if they offer antibody tests and whether you should get one. A positive test result shows you might have antibodies from an infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. However, there is a chance a positive result means that you have antibodies from an infection with a virus from the same family of viruses (called coronaviruses), such as the one that causes the common cold. Having antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 might provide protection from getting infected with the virus again. If it does, we do not know how much protection the antibodies might provide or how long this protection might last. You should continue to protect yourself and others since you could get infected with the virus again.

If you test negative, you might not have ever had COVID-19. Talk with your healthcare provider about your test result and the type of test you took to understand what your result means. Regardless of whether you test positive or negative, the results do not confirm whether or not you are able to spread the virus that causes COVID-19. Until we know more, continue to take steps to protect yourself and others.

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1. What should I do if I get sick or someone in my house gets sick?
2. What should I do if I have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19?
3. What is the difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic testing?
4. What do contact tracing and close contact mean?
5. What increases your risk of infection?
6. I recently traveled outside of Plumas County or someone outside of the county came to visit me and later tested positive for COVID-19. What should I do?
7. Is there a cost to get tested?
8. Can someone test negative and later test positive on a viral test for COVID-19?
9. How can I get tested for a past infection (antibody test) and what does my test mean?