i often wonder how many every day folks know not to eat or drink at least 30 minutes but ideally an hour before you take a covid test
Replies
I’ve never heard that.
aug 29, 2025, 11:20 am • 0 0 • view
"What's a covid test?" /s
aug 29, 2025, 12:54 am • 2 0 • view
Because?
aug 29, 2025, 12:51 am • 0 0 • view
because with most any testing, the sample can get contaminated and skew results, hiding a positive. this is why some blood tests require you to fast. this is why there’s very specific wiping instructions for UTI testing.
aug 29, 2025, 12:58 am • 3 0 • view
Good to know. Would rinsing or drinking water 1st help?
aug 29, 2025, 3:09 pm • 1 0 • view
that could also actually dilute the sample. coughing and blowing your nose, but leaving some of the snot inside the front of the nose is actually best practice. there really is research on this, but i'm not one who keeps track so sorry that i'm just some stranger sharing what i know/remember
aug 29, 2025, 3:19 pm • 1 0 • view
I did not know that.
aug 29, 2025, 3:56 am • 2 0 • view
wait even the nose ones?
aug 29, 2025, 3:08 am • 0 0 • view
i don’t think i’ve taken a non-nose covid test? but yes. there’s research on it somewhere (i don’t keep articles handy tho) and i believe most instructions include a note about eating and drinking
aug 29, 2025, 3:25 am • 1 0 • view
inspired me to test tomorrow morning because there’s been a cold going around my work ( a school yikes). not really the symptoms but covid is weird as hell and i’m not trynna do that
aug 29, 2025, 3:40 am • 1 0 • view
i have some recollection of getting a throat swab test but i might be misremembering it with a flu test. i don’t eat or drink before them most of them time bc i’m a heathen who forgets they have a human form most of the time anyway. i’ll definitely be more careful
aug 29, 2025, 3:39 am • 1 0 • view
also since like omicron i’ve been swabbing throat and nose for at home rapid antigen covid tests. i know i’ve needed to double check the research on that in regards to recent variants, but i know some previous variants were caught by swabbing mouth.
aug 29, 2025, 3:27 am • 1 0 • view
wait i’m confuse have you never taken a non nose one (always use nose ones) or have you been swabbing throat and nose with a special test i haven’t learned about
aug 29, 2025, 3:41 am • 1 0 • view
these are all solid questions/concerns and i’m genuinely grateful you’re asking ☺️ my teacher friends are going through hell rn it’s just a regular over the counter covid test, but for certain variants, research showed accuracy improved when you swabbed throat AND nose (w same swab. it’s gross 1/2
aug 29, 2025, 3:46 am • 1 0 • view
gross but you get used to it). and there were many years where i only swabbed nose. never only swabbed throat. i think that explains it? rooting for you and the kiddos! you’re right, covid IS weird. and it’s symptoms change based on variant and person’s immune system. 2/2
aug 29, 2025, 3:46 am • 1 0 • view
i have a perma-sinus drip so i’m used to nasty at this point. very cool tysm for sharing
aug 29, 2025, 3:54 am • 1 0 • view
It doesn’t matter, literally NONE of them have read the box and know HOW to self test.
aug 29, 2025, 5:47 am • 3 0 • view