However, not all laboratories currently report electronically. These test results automatically feed into NC COVID and populate the system with any available information on the laboratory report about the person. Some laboratories report COVID-19 test results into NC COVID through electronic laboratory reporting.
CASE CLICKER 2 CODES JUNE CODE
County and ZIP code case and death totals may not match the total NC cases or deaths this could be attributed to incomplete information.īecause reporting COVID-19 is mandatory in North Carolina, clinicians and laboratories must report results of all COVID-19 molecular (PCR) and antigen tests to local or state public health.
Data on cases and deaths include both molecular (PCR) and antigen positive cases. The terms “confirmed” and “probable” are used nationally to standardize case classifications for public health surveillance but should not be used to interpret the utility or validity of any laboratory test type.įor more information about different types of COVID-19 tests, visit the Food and Drug Administration’s overview of coronavirus testing basics.ĭata on cases and deaths, including number, demographics, county and ZIP code of residence, come from the North Carolina COVID-19 Surveillance System (NC COVID). Despite the names, regardless of the test used, a person who tests positive is considered to have COVID-19. Molecular (PCR) positive cases are classified as “confirmed” cases and antigen positive cases are classified as “probable” cases of COVID-19, in accordance with CDC case classification guidelines. An antigen positive case of COVID-19 is a person who received a positive COVID-19 result from an antigen test and does not have a positive result from a molecular (PCR) test. Antigen tests are often processed at the point of care, such as in a health care provider’s office.Ī molecular (PCR) positive case of COVID-19 is a person who received a positive COVID-19 result from a molecular (PCR) test.Molecular (PCR) tests are processed in a laboratory.Where the test is processed may also differ. An antigen test is a rapid test that looks for specific proteins on the surface of the virus.A molecular (PCR) test looks for the virus’s genetic material.Each test looks for different things to determine if someone is infected. This means that they look to see if someone is currently infected with COVID-19. This change was made in accordance with recently updated case classification guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.īoth molecular (PCR) and antigen tests are diagnostic. Antigen-positive cases and deaths, and 2. 25, 2020, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) began reporting on two new measures on the NC COVID-19 Dashboard: 1. Reinfections are included in case counts beginning on Oct.
The CDC changed the definition of a case on Aug. This reinfection is counted as an additional COVID-19 case on the NCDHHS dashboard. A person is considered reinfected if they have a new positive test at least 90 days after the initial test. A “COVID-19 case” is defined as a person that has received a positive test result.