Negative test, no smell/taste

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Forum -> Coronavirus Health Questions

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amother

Sat, Nov 28 2020, 9:26 pm

My husband lost his taste and smell but when he got tested it came back negative. Can it possibly be something other than covid or is the test wrong?

amother

Goldenrod

Sat, Nov 28 2020, 9:27 pm

How long did he lose it for? I lost mine for 10-12 hours, and my test was negative. But I also had pretty bad seasonal allergies and a cold, so that was probably why.

Mothers

Sat, Nov 28 2020, 9:27 pm

Could be a false Negative. Especially if it was a rapid.

amother

Sat, Nov 28 2020, 9:29 pm

amother [ Goldenrod ] wrote:

How long did he lose it for? I lost mine for 10-12 hours, and my test was negative. But I also had pretty bad seasonal allergies and a cold, so that was probably why.

Its been 3 days now

amother

Sat, Nov 28 2020, 11:11 pm

Mothers wrote:

Could be a false Negative. Especially if it was a rapid.

Do you think he should retest? Consider it covid without a positive test? Or take the negative test as fact and consider himself negative?

amother

Goldenrod

Sat, Nov 28 2020, 11:13 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Do you think he should retest? Consider it covid without a positive test? Or take the negative test as fast and consider himself negative?

If you’re only going to believe a positive test, then what’s the point?

amother

Tangerine

Sat, Nov 28 2020, 11:40 pm

Rapid tests have many false negatives
If someone tests too soon it's likely he will have a false negative.

Honestly, barring any other obvious reason for loss of smell and taste, you can assume he's positive. It's very very common for this to be someone's only symptom. It's also very contagious and spreading around the world like crazy, so it's a very reasonable assumption that he got it.

amother

Red

Sat, Nov 28 2020, 11:53 pm

You cannot rely on a rapid. Remember when rapid strep ones came out? You know how Drs always do strep rapids together with overnights? Same.

Mothers

Sat, Nov 28 2020, 11:54 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Do you think he should retest? Consider it covid without a positive test? Or take the negative test as fact and consider himself negative?

Loss of taste/smell - especially without another plausible reason (e.g. stuffed nose due to cold) is a major warning sign of COVID. I would assume he has COVID unless it has been ruled out by his doctor. I would also probably retest (with a PCR test).

Iymnok

Sat, Nov 28 2020, 11:56 pm

Years ago DH lost his taste. It was a zinc deficiency. He also has seasonal allergies.
Suggest that he take zinc, and retest if it was a rapid test.

ra_mom

Sun, Nov 29 2020, 12:46 am

I know someone who lost their sense of smell for a year from the flu many years ago.

amother

Black

Sun, Nov 29 2020, 1:01 am

could be he is over already. I know someone who was very exposed and about a week later he started coughing and a couple of days later he took a test (he was still coughing) and it was negative.

amother

Orange

Sun, Nov 29 2020, 1:13 am

Losing the taste and smell is the end of having Covid.
He could be negative since the virus left his body by the time he tested.
You can check for antibodies to be sure.

amother

Cyan

Sun, Nov 29 2020, 1:23 am

Assume he has it, probably a false negative.

amother

Sun, Nov 29 2020, 8:04 am

Ok I'm going to assume he has it. Possibly be at the end already, if that's the case how much longer should I be keeping the kids home? Is this whole week sufficient enough time?

Mothers

Sun, Nov 29 2020, 8:09 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Ok I'm going to assume he has it. Possibly be at the end already, if that's the case how much longer should I be keeping the kids home? Is this whole week sufficient enough time?

As per the CDC:

Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronaviru......html

With regard to him:

You can be with others after:
-At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared and
-At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication and
-Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving**Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation

https://www.cdc.gov/coronaviru......html

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