The problem is that you may be in an early stage of infection where there isn't much virus, or the swab may not have caught much of it. You could also have already recovered from an asymptomatic infection, and there is some residual viral RNA. A high Ct could be because of one of those factors, or from cross-contamination.
Re:Yes, experts will lie to you sometimes
by sobriquet9 on Monday March 29, 2021 @01:14PM
(#26625035)
That's why COVID-19 is diagnosed not only by rt-PCR, but also on the basis of symptoms, chest CT scans, and other nucleic acid testing.
The intent of covid tests isn't to see if you have a tiny insignificant spec of SARS-CoV-2 in your nasal passage. The intent is to see if you have Covid19 and are possibly contagious. When you amplify too much, you are defeating the purpose of the test. A tiny spec of remnant SARS-CoV-2 doesn't mean you are contagious or have Covid19. It just means you have a tiny spec of viral material up in your nose.