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Does RA/RD and its immunosuppressant medications alter COVID-19 testing results?

  1. Hey ! I'm having trouble finding information around this question and topic, so I'm hopeful others can chime in if they've heard anything about this. Thanks for asking us here! -Alesandra ( Team)

    1. As soon as I hear anything, I'll shout it from the rooftop. Well maybe not the rooftop, lol...and I hear you were thinking about the same thing😀

      1. Hello there...yes, no covid here here. Well the tests that I had came back neg. But even those type of tests have changed. Still having fevers every 2-3 weeks..but have no answers yet. I do have some appts coming I may be re-tested. But geeze what kind of Dr. lets a person walk out of their office with a walker and a 101+ fever?..."No, I don't need any help." maybe one of those 5 nurses could give me a hand..Sorry, I know I sound bitter today. One of those days. Sorry. Hang in there everyone! xoxo

    2. Hi ,

      I have not read that there are any medications that alter COVID-19 test results. That being said, obviously there is a lot that is not known about this virus, as well as a lot of research taking place that is not yet available to the public. However, experts do agree that the accuracy of COVID-19 tests varies widely across the many manufacturers making them.

      I can share my own testing experience. I wrote about it in this article: I was tested on day 4 of being sick with a swab test. This was collected from my throat, not from the back of the nostril, as is recommended. It took 8 days to get a result, and it was negative. As I still had a fever, the doctor assumed it was a false negative, and had me come back in for a rapid blood antibody test. That came back positive.

      There have been numerous accounts of false negative test results for both the swab and blood antibody tests. If you are concerned you may have contracted COVID-19 but tested negative, I recommend you talk to your doctor about getting re-tested.

      Wishing you all the best,

      1. Hi Tamara- I'm sorry I am just getting around to reading this now..I've been kind of frazzled lately. But yes, I am going to bring up the topic to another of my many 😀 docs. I had the nasal swab test and some blood test that hadn't been approved yet..they both came back neg. Despite my fever of 102 which has been lingering off and on along w other symptoms. I would think that being on prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, (yea Trump didn't get all of it 😀 cellcept, mobic, gralice, and a seizure medication..and the beat goes on ...I don't know what else probably interferes with things. But I'm not giving up on this one..thanks for answering me so quickly. thank you..notdancing

      2. Hey ,

        How are you feeling now? I hope you are feeling much better, and I also know that if it did end up being Covid that can last a long time. If you feel so inclined to give us an update, please do.

        Sending you wishes for all the best,

    3. I looked in several academic index's and I did not find any references about biologic medications and COVID-19 testing.

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