The Haywood County Health Department has been notified of a false positive COVID-19 lab test. The positive test result was received by a local provider and reported to the Health Department in April. Because the individual was asymptomatic we encouraged a second test which came back “invalid.” Two subsequent tests were negative.
“After consultation with NC Department of Public Health it is determined for us to remove a positive from our case count,” stated Patrick Johnson, Haywood County Public Health Director.
“This just points out that any test, not just the COVID tests, can give a result at times that is falsely positive or negative,” stated Dr. Mark Jaben, Haywood County Medical Director.
“For this reason, any test result has to be interpreted along with the circumstances, in this case, contacts, symptoms, and health condition. After reviewing all this, it is believed this particular result was falsely positive.”
“Each situation is unique. We evaluate each result. Not every positive or negative needs to be retested, but if so, please know that we will do so,” said Jaben.
