Early Afternoon COVID-19 Test Could Be More Accurate

What's the best time of day for a COVID-19 test? VUMC researchers studying the effect of time of day on the accuracy of COVID tests found the best chances of reducing a false negative happen in the early afternoon.

Based on results of PCR tests performed on adults at VUMC from March through August of 2020, the VUMC team reported the probability of a positive result was 1.7 times more likely at 2:06 p.m. than at the daily low of around 2 a.m. Read more about the study and researchers' theories about why in

Based on results of PCR tests performed on adults at VUMC from March through August of 2020, the VUMC team reported the probability of a positive result was 1.7 times more likely at 2:06 p.m. than at the daily low of around 2 a.m. Read more about the study and researchers' theories about why in this article from the VUMC Reporter.