What could be the cause of a false negative COVID-19 antibody test result? Having an antibody test too early can lead to false negative results. That’s because it takes a week or two after infection for your immune system to produce antibodies.
What is a false positive COVID-19 antibody test? Sometimes a person can test positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies when they do not actually have those specific antibodies. This is called a false positive.
What can cause a false positive COVID-19 rapid antigen test? The investigators also point out that false-positives are possible due to administering the test too early or late in the infectious stage, or from incorrectly performing the self-test.
Related Questions
How accurate are rapid COVID-19 tests?
Positive results are usually highly accurate but negative results may need to be confirmed with a PCR test. Rapid tests are most effective one to five days after symptoms start.