What does it mean if my COVID-19 test result is inconclusive or unclear?

An inconclusive or unclear COVID-19 test result can be caused by several factors. One reason a test may come back with an inconclusive result is that viral DNA was present but only in amounts too small for a true positive. Low amounts of viral DNA can occur when an infection is very new, when an infection is nearly over, or when a sample wasn’t collected properly.

Inconclusive or unclear test results can also occur when a COVID-19 test that detects both a SARS-CoV-2 specific target and a general coronavirus target only detects the general coronavirus target. If the result is inconclusive or unclear, you should quarantine until you can discuss the results with a medical professional or you can get retested.

You can learn more about inconclusive test results here:

https://khealth.com/learn/coronavirus/inconclusive-covid-test/

https://www.citymd.com/news/understanding-your-pcr-nasal-swab-test-results