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COVID Testing and Isolation FAQs

Updated Oct. 16, 2023

Where to get free home COVID tests during Fall 2023
  • Get four free COVID tests at covidtests.gov.
  • Get five free COVID tests at many local libraries.
  • Your health insurance may reimburse you for the cost of home tests. Check with your health insurance for more information.

Henry Ford Health offers COVID-19 testing for established Henry Ford Health patients who have been referred for testing by their doctor. Our Emergency Departments do not offer COVID-19 testing for people who are not already being seen in the Emergency Department and who have COVID symptoms. Many community locations offer convenient, free COVID testing. Visit www.michigan.gov/covidtest to find a location near you to get tested for free.

COVID-19 Testing and Isolation FAQs

Get additional detailed, up-to-date COVID testing information on the Center for Disease Control's COVID testing website

Can I get a COVID test at Henry Ford Health?

You must be a Henry Ford Health patient to receive a COVID-19 test at Henry Ford Health. If you have COVID-19 symptoms and believe you need to be tested:

  • Please contact your provider via MyChart, or
  • Call the MyCare Advice Line, (844) 262-1949.

Your provider or the MyCare Advice Line will provide further instructions for testing.

A few things about COVID-19 testing at Henry Ford Health:

  • Walk-in testing is not available. A physician order and appointment are required to be tested.
  • You cannot schedule an appointment for testing on your own using MyChart.
  • Our Emergency Departments (ED) do not offer COVID-19 tests unless you are being seen in the ED. Please do not visit an Emergency Department for a COVID-19 test.
  • Henry Ford Health does not offer COVID-19 tests for international travel, for patients who do not have COVID-19 symptoms, or for people who are not Henry Ford Health patients.
  • Visit www.michigan.gov/covidtest to find a location near you to get tested for free.

When should I get a COVID-19 test?

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, test immediately. You can use a home test or go to a testing site. Visit www.michigan.gov/covidtest to find a location near you to get tested for free.

If you do not have symptoms but have been in close contact with someone who now has COVID-19, wait a full 5 days after you had that contact to test. This means you should test on day 6 (Day 0 is the day you were exposed.) If you develop COVID symptoms, test right away. 

How are home tests (antigen tests) and PCR tests (done at a COVID testing source) different?

PCR tests are very accurate. They are done in a lab and may take a few days. Home tests, or antigen tests, give you results within 15 minutes. Positive results from a home test are accurate. However, home tests can give false negative results. This means you may have COVID even if your test result says you do not.

If my home test is positive (says I have COVID), what do I do?

If your home test is positive, this is a reliable result. You do not need to test again. You should:

  • Stay home and isolate for a minimum of 5 days from the date of your positive test or from when you first had symptoms. Get plenty of rest, drink fluids, and take Tylenol or other pain relievers and decongestants for your symptoms.
  • Visit the CDC’s website for more information and see the next FAQ below, “When can I end isolation after I test positive for COVID?”
  • Call your doctor for guidance if you are not feeling well or have concerns about your health and COVID.
  • Tell people who were around you in the last 2-3 days that you tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Wear a mask if you have contact with people in your home.
  • If you have severe symptoms, go to an emergency department. These include: trouble breathing; persistent pain or pressure in your chest; new confusion; cannot wake up or stay awake; pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone.

When can I end isolation after I test positive for COVID?

  • If you had no symptoms or mild symptoms and are feeling better, with no fever for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication (like Tylenol), you can end isolation after 5 days. This means you can end isolation on day 6, with day 0 being the first day you tested positive or had symptoms. Continue to wear a mask for 5 more days.
  • If your symptoms are not improving after 5 days, continue to isolate until your symptoms improve and you have no fever for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medications.
  • If you had severe symptoms, you need to isolate through day 10. Talk to your doctor or health provider before ending isolation.
  • Visit the CDC’s website for a handy “Isolation and Exposure Calculator” to help you decide when to end isolation.
  • Regardless of when you end isolation, wear a mask and avoid being around others who are more likely to get very sick from COVID until at least day 11.
  • If you are unsure when to end isolation, talk to your doctor or provider for guidance.

If my home test is negative (says I do not have COVID), what do I do?

Home tests can give false negative results. That is why you should repeat the test if your result is negative.

Keep in mind you may have tested negative but are in the very early stages of COVID-19, before the test can tell you if you have the virus. Even if you test negative, you should still wear a mask when recommended or required, social distance, wash your hands often, and avoid crowds. You still need to use common sense and continue to be careful so you do not get COVID-19 or unknowingly spread it to others.

  • If you take a home COVID test and it is negative, test a second time in 48 hours.
    • Then, test a third time 48 hours later, for a total of 3 tests.
  • If you were around someone who now has COVID and your home tests are negative, you should continue to watch for symptoms and wear a mask when around others for a total of 10 days after you were exposed.
  • If you feel unsure about your home test results, visit www.michigan.gov/covidtest to find a location near you to get a PCR test for free.
  • If you took a home test before visiting an elderly or sick person, traveling, or going to a gathering, do not ignore all other precautions. You should still social distance, wash your hands often and wear a mask when recommended.

Do I need a COVID-19 test before a surgery or procedure, or before being admitted to a Henry Ford Health hospital?

No, if you do not have symptoms of COVID-19, a test is not generally required before surgery, a procedure or being admitted to a Henry Ford Hospital. If you have COVID-19 symptoms in the days before a scheduled surgery, procedure, or hospital admission, contact your provider so a test can be scheduled for you.

Why are COVID-19 tests required for patients being admitted to a behavioral health unit or Henry Ford Maplegrove Center?

These settings are different than hospital care because patients often gather in groups for therapy, socializing or activities. This makes it possible for COVID-19 to spread quickly. For these reasons, a COVID-19 is required before a patient is admitted to these settings. Behavioral health units and Maplegrove also require influenza testing when influenza is in the area. COVID-19 testing guidelines are similar.

When should I go to a hospital emergency department or call 911 for an ambulance?

Go to a hospital emergency department or call 911 if you have severe COVID-19 symptoms: trouble breathing; persistent pain or pressure in your chest; new confusion; cannot wake up or stay awake; pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone. If you need a COVID test, stay home until you are able to get tested, either at a testing site or with a home test. Do not go to a hospital Emergency Department for a COVID test.

When is someone with COVID-19 contagious/able to give someone else the virus?

People are contagious two to three days before they start to feel sick or test positive, and then for at least five days after they feel sick or have a positive test.

Are home tests reliable?

Home tests are a good option. Home tests are very reliable for positive results, but can give you a false negative result.

  • If your home test is positive (if it says you have COVID-19), isolate yourself right away, even if you feel fine. There is no need to test again unless you have another reason, for example, your employer requires it.
  • If your home test is negative, it does not mean you do not have COVID-19. You can still have the virus. See the FAQ, “If my home test is negative (says I do not have COVID), what do I do?” above for details.

If I take a PCR test, do I need to repeat testing?

No, if you take a PCR test, you only need to test once.

If I test positive with a home test, do I need to go get an “official” test?

You do not need to test again.

If I test negative, can I be less careful?

People take tests for many reasons, for example, before gatherings, before visiting a sick or elderly loved one, because they feel sick, or before international travel. These are all good reasons to take a test. However, if the test is negative, do not assume you cannot have or get COVID-19. You may be in the very early stages of COVID-19, before the test can tell you if you have the virus. If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should wear a mask for 10 days after exposure, social distance, wash your hands often, and avoid crowds. Use common sense and continue to be careful so you do not get COVID-19 or unknowingly spread it to others.

Do I need to quarantine if I was exposed to a person with COVID-19 but feel fine?

No, you do not need to quarantine. You can go to school, work, and your usual activities. However, you should:

  • Wear a mask that fits well – ideally an N95 or equivalent – for 10 days following your exposure whenever you are around other people.
  • Be careful not to be around someone who is especially vulnerable to severe COVID-19, such as an elderly or immunocompromised person, for the 10-day period.
  • Test on day 6 after the exposure. (Day 0 is the day you were exposed.)
  • See the FAQ above, “If my home test is negative (says I do not have COVID), what do I do?” for more details.
  • If you develop symptoms, test right away. If you test positive, you need to go into isolation for 5 days.

What is “rebound COVID?” What should I do if I have COVID symptoms after I thought I was better?

“Rebound” COVID is when a person has COVID, recovers, then develops symptoms again. It can happen if you took COVID medication or not. (It is not linked to the medication Paxlovid.) If you test positive again, the clock resets. The day you test positive is a new Day 0, and you should begin another 5 days of isolation and mask until after day 10, just as you did the first time. If your symptoms are severe or you have questions, contact your doctor.

I recently had COVID and have been recovered, but I took a COVID test and it is positive. Do I have it again?

You can continue to test positive for some time after having COVID. Reinfections can occur within 90 days, which makes it hard to know if a positive test indicates a new infection. Consider consulting a healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about a positive test result. Testing guidelines from the CDC are:

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