COVID-19 and flu testing in South Carolina: what a result can tell you

A test result is a snapshot, not a verdict. A negative home antigen test on the first day of symptoms can miss an infection that shows up clearly two days later. That's why the FDA and CDC recommend repeat testing after a negative home result when you have symptoms.

There are more kinds of tests than there used to be. Home antigen tests, lab PCR tests, and combination tests that check for flu and COVID-19 at once. Each has a job. Some are better for speed, some for accuracy, and some for deciding whether treatment makes sense, which is a conversation for your clinician.

This section explains the differences in plain language, how expiration dates work, what to do with a positive result, and where South Carolinians can find testing through pharmacies, clinics and DPH health departments.