Is the result of the new crown test kit accurate after being used overnight?

The COVID-19 test kit, also known as the novel coronavirus antigen detection kit, is an important tool for rapid detection of novel coronavirus infection. However, if patients check the results overnight after using the kit, the readings are often inaccurate.

The results of antigen detection have a clear observation and validity time. Generally speaking, preliminary results can be obtained about 15 minutes after sampling, and the maximum time to observe the results should not exceed 30 minutes. After checking overnight, an overreaction may occur in the kit, resulting in false positives or strong positives. This change has no practical significance for diagnosing infection.

In addition to the observation time, the accuracy of the test results of the kit is also affected by many factors:

1. The adequacy of sample collection. If insufficient respiratory secretion samples are collected, it may directly lead to inaccurate test results.

2. The storage status of the kit. If the kit is contaminated after being opened and used, or it is expired or improperly stored, it may lead to detection errors.

3. Standardization of operation. When using the kit, you must strictly follow the instructions. Any irregular operation may affect the accuracy of the results.

4. Individual differences. Factors such as viral load and disease stage in different patients may also affect the accuracy of antigen testing.

5. Interference from other drugs. Certain drugs, such as antiviral drugs, immunosuppressants, etc., may affect the expression of viral antigens and thus affect the test results.

In summary, in order to ensure the accuracy of the COVID-19 kit test results, patients should observe the results within the specified time and pay attention to the various influencing factors mentioned above. If you have any doubts or symptoms persist, you should seek medical treatment promptly and conduct a nucleic acid test to confirm the diagnosis.