Show All Answers

1. How is COVID-19 diagnosed?

A specialized test must be performed to confirm that a person has been infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Contact your medical provider or call the St. Charles County COVID Information Hotline at 636-949-1899 for information on obtaining testing. You must call ahead to obtain testing approval and receive further direction.

Not everyone needs to be tested for COVID-19. For those who do receive approval from a medical provider for testing, there are several options – including by the provider, through private laboratories and other sources. A list of testing sites in Missouri is available through the Department of Health and Senior Services.

2. What is a viral test, and what do the results tell you)?

Viral tests are used to diagnose if an individual is currently infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. There are several different methods for conducting a viral test. These tests check samples from the respiratory system, such as using swabs to collect samples from inside your nose. Some tests can be completed in minutes, while others may take a few days to be processed by a laboratory. A list of testing sites in Missouri is available through the Department of Health and Senior Services.

If you test positive:

• A positive test result indicates that the individual is currently infected COVID-19. The testing facility will contact the local health department responsible for your home location, and contact tracers from that department will reach out to you. You will be asked to undergo quarantine/isolation procedures to limit further spread of illness and should limit your exposure to others.

If you test negative:

• If you test negative during a viral test, you were not infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus at the time of the testing. However, this does not mean that you will not get sick. It is possible that you were early in your infection exposure when the sample was collected, and you could test positive at a different time. In addition, you could possibly become exposed to the virus at a later date and develop the infection at that time.
• A negative viral test result does not mean that you will not get sick later or that you will never be able to spread the virus to others.

3. What is an antibody test?

An antibody test, also known as serology testing, checks a sample of a person’s blood for the presence of antibodies. Antibodies are specific proteins that our body makes to help fight off infections, which means this test can determine if an individual had a previous infection with the COVID-19 virus. At this time, a positive result cannot determine if the individual is currently infected, contagious to others or protected against the virus in the future.

This test can be performed through healthcare providers and laboratories. Speak with your medical provider to see if they offer antibody tests.

4. What do the results from an antibody test mean?

If you test positive:

• A positive test result shows you have antibodies that likely resulted from an infection with SARS-CoV-2, or possibly a related coronavirus.
• It’s unclear if those antibodies can provide protection (immunity) against getting infected again. This means that we do not know at this time if antibodies make you immune to the virus.It’s possible you might test positive for antibodies and you might not have or have ever had symptoms of COVID-19. This is known as having an asymptomatic infection, or an infection without symptoms.

If you test negative:

• If you test negative for COVID-19 antibodies, you probably did not have a previous infection that had gotten better. However, you could have a current infection and you could still get sick and spread the virus if you have been exposed or are exposed in the future.
• It is also possible that it may take a long time to develop antibodies and, in some cases, individuals may never develop antibodies. This could cause a false negative test result.

5. What are the limitations of antibody testing?

Much like the virus itself, we still do not know very much about what the presence of antibodies means for that person. An antibody test cannot tell if you are currently sick with COVID-19. Some people may take longer than others to develop antibodies, and some people may not develop antibodies at all.

We also do not know if the antibodies that result from the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 will provide someone with immunity from a future infection. Even if antibodies do provide immunity, additional research is needed to determine what amount of antibodies would be needed to protect someone from additional or future infection.

6. Are test materials available in St. Charles County, and how may they be obtained?

A specialized test must be performed to confirm that a person has been infected by the SARS-Cov-2 virus that causes COVID-19. A list of mobile testing sites is available online through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Call your medical provider or call the St. Charles County’s COVID-19 Information Hotline at 636-949-1899 for information on how to obtain testing. You must call ahead to obtain testing and receive further direction.

For those interested in an antibody test, this must be performed through a healthcare provider or laboratory. Speak with your medical provider to determine if they offer antibody tests.

7. How does St. Charles County utilize test results? Can an antibody test affect the quarantine period for an individual?

When the Department of Public Health receives notification of a positive test result, staff conducts a full investigation to determine when the exposure occurred, what additional contact tracing is needed, and if quarantine is appropriate.

When staff receives a negative test result, that information is kept for statistical purposes. A negative antibody test will not allow someone to be released from their quarantine.

8. How is COVID-19 treated?

There is currently no recommended treatment for those infected with COVID-19. Most people who are diagnosed with the illness will recover on their own by drinking plenty of fluids, resting and taking over-the-counter medications for symptoms experienced. In some cases, individuals may require medical care or hospitalization.

9. Should I take chloroquine phosphate, hydroxychloroquine or other medicines to prevent or treat COVID-19?

At this time, there are no products that are U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.

Pharmaceutical chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate are approved by the FDA to treat specific medical conditions, such as malaria, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate, when used without a prescription and supervision of a healthcare provider, can cause serious health consequences, including death. In overdose situations, when used inappropriately or when used in combination with other drugs, these medications can lead to severe toxicity, including cardiac rhythm disturbances such as prolonged QT, severe hypokalemia, cardiovascular collapse, seizures, coma, and death.

10. My question was not listed among these FAQs. Where can I go for additional information?

The CDC is an excellent resource for up-to-date information on COVID-19. Here are FAQs answered on their website.

For additional questions, please call the St. Charles County Public Health COVID-19 Information Hotline at 636-949-1899.