I got the vaccine and have symptoms, should I be tested?

Yes. The CDC continues to recommend testing for all symptomatic individuals regardless of vaccination status or prior COVID infection. If you develop any signs or symptoms of illness, including but not limited to loss of taste or smell, cough, runny nose, nasal congestion, headache, body aches, fever or chills, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea you should be tested and quarantine, at a minimum, until you know the results of your COVID test.

How long should I wait to test if I am exposed and have no symptoms?

If you have been in close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) to someone with COVID-19, even if you are fully vaccinated (at least two weeks out from final dose of COVID vaccination), you should get tested 3-5 days after exposure and monitor for symptoms. If you are fully vaccinated, you should wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until you receive a negative test result.  If you are not fully vaccinated, you will also need to quarantine to protect yourself, your family, and your community.

What is the typical wait time for results?

The wait time for results is dependent on multiple factors, the most common being the demand for testing. Currently, results are available within 24 hours of testing. Results from DCMC can be found on the patient portal.

Are we testing for the variant?

The DCMC COVID PCR test detects all currently known variants but does not differentiate between them. We send a selection of positive COVID specimens to the State weekly for sequencing. DCMC does not receive results of the variant testing, but the State uses the data to understand which strains are spreading in our state and how common the new strains are in our communities.