This status indicates that samples have been processed by the lab and 1 of 4 possible results has been delivered.
Result Types
Positive: A positive result for pooled tests means the virus which causes COVID-19 was detected in the sample. When a pooled test produces a positive result, at least one person in the group is presumed infected. Since our pooled test returns results at the pool (group) level, you will not know which individual is presumed infected.
Negative: A negative result for pooled tests means the virus that causes COVID-19 was not detected in the sample.
Indeterminate: The sample fell out of the detection limit of our assay. An indeterminate result for pooled tests means that the result is neither positive nor negative.
Tips for future prevention:
- Ensure that every test taker swabs each nostril according to the collection instructions.
- If a test observer notices that the test taker swab appears to have a lot of debris, please have this individual blow their nose and reswab. For example, inhaled sawdust from working in a woodshop or bloody noses.
Unusable: Tubes with an unusable result do not pass the quality control standards for our tests, which makes us unable to process these samples.
An Unusable result could be caused by the following:
- Samples do not begin processing within the sample stability window of 72 hours
- Swabs were placed incorrectly into the pooled tube
- Damaged barcode
Tips for future prevention:
- Use the correct packaging when shipping
- Ensure that sample swabs are placed in the tube with fluffy tip down and plastic shaft up
- Have test takers swab the interior of both nostrils x4 times
- Be mindful of the external barcode on each tube. If the barcode is damaged, we will be unable to scan it into our system for processing