You should test for COVID-19 in the following situations:
- If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, test immediately. If an antigen test is negative but symptoms persist, repeat the test after 48 hours to confirm. Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat, headache, congestion, and gastrointestinal symptoms among others.
- If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 but have no symptoms, wait at least five full days after exposure before testing to avoid inaccurate results from early testing.
- Consider testing before gathering with others, especially if you will be around people at higher risk of severe illness such as older adults or immunocompromised individuals.
- People at high risk of severe disease who develop symptoms should get tested promptly and seek medical advice, as they may benefit from COVID-19 treatments.
- Testing can also be useful if you want to screen yourself in high-risk situations like crowded indoor spaces.
Testing methods include laboratory PCR testing, point-of-care testing, and rapid antigen tests that can be done at home, with specific instructions for sample collection and repeat testing to reduce false negatives.
Overall, testing is important to identify infection early, limit spread, and seek timely medical care if needed.
These recommendations align with guidance from public health authorities including those in Canada, the US, Australia, and others as of 2025.
