# How long can I expect to continue to test positive?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-i-expect-to-continue-to-test-positive/966461>\
**Category:** The Quarantine Zone\
**Tags:** covid-quarantine\
**Created:** [June 19, 2022, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-i-expect-to-continue-to-test-positive/966461 "2022-06-19T19:08:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-i-expect-to-continue-to-test-positive/966461/1 "2022-06-19T19:08:40Z")

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I tested positive for Covid with symptoms resembling a cold, and then tested positive again 8 days later with no symptoms remaining. How long before I can expect to be free of the virus and test negative again?

As a point of reference, I have had two initial doses of vaccine and two boosters.

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**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-i-expect-to-continue-to-test-positive/966461/2 "2022-06-19T19:17:58Z")

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Just one data point - I tested positive for the first time a week ago Thursday 6/9/22. I had cold symptoms for a few days prior to that, and had tested negative on the prior Tuesday 6/7/22.

I tested negative this past Thursday 6/16/22. So, for me it was seven days. I am up to date on vaccine and boosters.

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**Author:** ![Orville\_mogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/aeb1de/32.png) [@Orville\_mogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orville_mogul)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2022, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-i-expect-to-continue-to-test-positive/966461/3 "2022-06-19T20:20:10Z")

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Which type of test? It makes a difference.

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**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-i-expect-to-continue-to-test-positive/966461/4 "2022-06-20T01:36:46Z")

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It can be pretty variable, but as a point of reference, at my hospital we don’t re-test any patients who have had a positive test within the last 90 days.

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-i-expect-to-continue-to-test-positive/966461/5 "2022-06-21T01:25:04Z")

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A (I hope) small hijack if I may …

I have been triple vaxxed w Moderna and AFAIK never have had COVID. I’ve certainly never tested positive while (mildly) ill with _something_ respiratory now and again since COVID began.

Is there an affordable practical sensible test to determine if I ever did have it? A test which can distinguish between prior vaccination and prior infection?

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**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-i-expect-to-continue-to-test-positive/966461/6 "2022-06-21T03:08:59Z")

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Based on my family’s experience and other people I’ve spoken to 10-14 days seems typical (for vaccinated+boosted adults)