Why should we continue to test if our positivity rate is low?

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• Why should we continue to test if our positivity rate is low?

  Frequent testing helps positivity rates remain low. SHIELD testing catches people who are positive (whether they show symptoms or not) and we are able to quarantine  them in time to help reduce mass infection.

• What is covidSHIELD’s false positive rate? I heard the test is no more accurate than a coin flip, or 50/50. Is that true?

  The answer to that is, unequivocally, "no." And it is wrong by a long shot. Let me explain: In a perfect world, we would know the exact number of infected people, which would be the starting point in making such a calculation. Without knowing that ...

• I tested positive with covidSHIELD and negative with nasal PCR or other test. Which result is correct?

  Not all PCR tests are the same. They run on different PCR instruments, use different reagents, look for different genes, etc. etc. For example, the covidSHIELD saliva test is more reliable overall compared to self-collected nasal specimens. Nasal PCR ...

• Can I schedule a test for myself?

  SHIELD Illinois does not offer individual testing. However, individuals can get tested using the covidSHIELD test by SHIELD Illinois through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) community testing sites. The list of sites and times can be ...

• How reliable are covidSHIELD test results?

  In a recent study, the saliva test was shown to have a specificity of 98.9% and a sensitivity of 95.8%. The FDA-authorized covidSHIELD test targets three highly conserved regions of the viral genome for detection. High specificity offered by ...