how soon after symptoms should i test for covid

The best time to test for COVID-19 is immediately after symptoms appear. If using an antigen test and the first result is negative but symptoms persist, it is recommended to test again 48 hours later. This approach helps catch cases where the virus may not have been detectable yet at the first test. If there are no symptoms but there has been a known exposure, it is advised to wait at least five full days after exposure before testing to avoid inaccurate results. Testing right when symptoms begin is important to help with early diagnosis, treatment, and to reduce spreading the virus to others.