If your rapid test is positive you should isolate, avoid social contact and inform the people you have recently had contact with.

After a positive rapid test you should call a doctor or the medical standby service on 116 117 to discuss what to do next.  A PCR test is often carried out to check the result of the rapid test.  However, in certain cases a positive rapid test result alone is accepted as sufficient evidence of infection with SARS-CoV-2.

When a PCR test confirms the positive result of the rapid test, you have to isolate and avoid social contact.

You should also consult a doctor to find out about the treatment options. How the treatment proceeds will depend on a lot of different factors such as your age, pre-existing conditions and the progress of the illness so far.

Further information about COVID tests is available at infektionsschutz.de, the website of BZgA (the Federal Centre for Health Education).

Further information about treatment options is available in the "Treatment" section.

Rapid antigen tests are very reliable at detecting whether someone has a high viral load and is therefore very infectious. This applies to both the antigen self-tests that you do at home and the rapid antigen tests done at testing sites.

But when only low levels of virus are present, as is the case in the first few days of an infection or when a vaccinated person becomes infected, antigen tests are less reliable because they are often not sufficiently sensitive to detect small amounts of virus. So the result can be a false-negative.

An additional factor is that the sensitivity of the tests varies depending on the manufacturer and the product. Some tests detect small amounts of virus while others do not. The Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) has tested the sensitivity of 122 antigen tests available on the market and published the results here.

Another reason for incorrect results is that mistakes are often made in the testing procedure.  So before you do a home test please read the instructions carefully and stick to the procedure exactly.

It is also possible for a rapid test to yield a false positive result. In this case, following it up with a PCR test is the only way to find out with certainty whether an infection with SARS-CoV-2 is present or not.

Further information about COVID tests is available at infektionsschutz.de, the website of BZgA (the Federal Centre for Health Education).

The Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) provides further information on the sensitivity of rapid antigen tests.

Detailed instructions on the use of self-tests are available from the Robert Koch Institute.

The PCR test is the most reliable form of test indicating infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

A PCR test is carried out by a trained member of staff who takes a sample from you. The sample is taken either from your throat, by inserting a swab into your mouth, or from the back of your nose, by inserting the swab into your nose. The sample is then sent to a lab to be analyzed.

When the sample is analyzed, the so-called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to reproduce the hereditary material of the virus many times over. This makes it possible to detect the virus even when it is only present in the body in small quantities.

A PCR test can be used if infection is suspected, or if a rapid antigen test has already given a positive result, or if the person has symptoms suggesting SARS-Cov-2 infection.

PCR tests are also a requirement in certain everyday situations such as before hospital admission or when travelling by air.

It takes a few hours to carry out a PCR test. This means it can take one day or longer for the result of a PCR test to come through.

Further information is available at infektionsschutz.de, the website of BZgA (the Federal Centre for Health Education).

Antigen self-test:

These test kits are also sometimes called “rapid antigen tests”, “lateral flow tests” or “home tests” and are freely available for sale online and over-the-counter in supermarkets and pharmacies.  They are easy to use and can be done at home. An antigen self-test shows whether certain proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus are present on your mucous membranes. If they are, this indicates infection.

For some antigen self-tests you need to take a sample from inside your nose.  For others, taking a sample means you have to spit, suck something or gargle. To find out exactly what you need to do, read the instructions belonging to your particular test kit and follow them exactly. If you are not going to use a test kit straight away, you should also follow the instructions on storage.

The result of an antigen self-test is usually visible within 15 to 30 minutes.

Rapid antigen test

Rapid antigen tests are sometimes just called “quick tests” and are carried out by specially-trained people. Like a self-test, a rapid test also checks the mucous membranes to find out whether particular proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus are present.  For these tests, a sample is usually taken from the nose or throat. The result of the test is available in 15 to 30 minutes.

PCR Test

A PCR test or lab test is the “gold standard” among the coronavirus tests. It is based on the so-called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which allows the hereditary material of the virus to be copied many times over. This makes it possible to detect the virus even when it is only present in the body in small quantities. As with antigen self-tests, the sample for a PCR test is taken from your throat, for which the swab is inserted into your mouth, or from the back of your nose, for which the swab is inserted into your nose. The sample is then sent to a lab to be analyzed.

PoC-NAAT Test

Like PCR tests, these tests are based on nucleic acid amplification technology (NAAT). However, they have the advantage that they can provide a result quickly and can therefore be used at the Point of Care (PoC) itself. The sensitivity is somewhat lower than that of a PCR test and the error rate is higher.

Antibody test

After an infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the body develops special proteins that can be detected in the blood. These proteins may not be detectable in the body until a few weeks after the infection.  An antibody test therefore only shows if someone has had COVID-19 in the past and does not show whether they are infected at the time the test is carried out.

Further information about COVID tests is available at infektionsschutz.de, the website of BZgA (the Federal Centre for Health Education).

Detailed instructions on the use of self-tests are available from the Robert Koch Institute.

The word “quarantine” means the isolation of people, animals or plants for a limited period of time when there is a chance that they may be infected with certain diseases or could transmit pathogens. This includes people who have had contact with someone infected with SARS-CoV-2. In Germany, the infection protection law (IfSG) provides the legal basis for quarantine. Where the infected people themselves are concerned, the world is “isolation” and not “quarantine”.

Quarantine is intended to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. In Germany, local health authorities decide whether to prescribe quarantine in accordance with this law.

Quarantine means that the person in question must stay at home for a certain period of time and cannot receive any visitors during that time. They are not allowed to have any form of contact with other people.

The length of time that infected people have to spend isolating and the time that close contacts have to spend in quarantine can be different in different parts of Germany and have been changed several times during the pandemic. Please check on the current rules in your particular federal state.

More information about isolation and quarantine can be found at infektionsschutz.de (website of BZgA, the Federal Centre for Health Education), and at the Federal Health Ministry’s website Zusammen gegen Corona.

Further information about the law on infection protection is available from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

It is not usually necessary to use disinfectant for normal household cleaning. Cleaning surfaces and objects with hot water and your usual household cleaner is enough to reduce the pathogens to an acceptable level.

Surfaces that are touched frequently, like door handles, light switches, mobile phones and landline telephone receivers, have a particularly high pathogen load. These should therefore be wiped more often.

In exceptional situations it can be useful to use disinfectant at home – when someone is ill and infectious, for instance, or when a member of the family has a weakened immune system.

More tips about domestic cleaning and the use of disinfectants are available from the consumer advice centers and BZgA (the Federal Centre for Health Education).

To prevent infection you should wash your hands thoroughly several times a day: before and after preparing food, before eating, after using the toilet, before and after contact with sick people, after touching animals and after contact with contaminated material.

When you come home, the first thing you should do is wash your hands. In everyday life we constantly touch objects such as bannisters, door handles, support rails on public transport, banknotes, coins, displays, computer keyboards, etc. All these things could have pathogens on them.

Wash your hands with plenty of hot water and soap. Don't forget your finger nails and the area between your fingers. A 30-second hand-wash is enough to clean your hands thoroughly. If you don’t want to count the seconds you can sing “Happy Birthday” twice over instead. Or Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” once over if you prefer.

After washing your hands, dry them thoroughly with a clean towel. At work or in restaurants you should dry them with a paper towel if possible. A short video about hand hygiene from BZgA (the Federal Centre for Health Education) is available here. A brochure produced by the patient safety alliance APS provides more tips about ways to prevent infection.

BZgA (the Federal Centre for Health Education) recommends sticking to the rule known in Germany as “AHA+L+A”, in the UK as “Hands-Face-Space-Fresh air”, and in the USA as “the 3Ws”.

The main elements of this rule in all three cases – given here as the 3 Ws – are:

Watch your distance: be sure to keep 1.5 meters away from other people (such as when you go shopping or in the office when you're at work).

Wash your hands: thorough hand washing is important. When you cough or sneeze, do it into the crook of your arm and not into your hand.

Wear a mask: wear a covering over your nose and mouth when you can’t be sure of keeping far enough away from other people in public spaces. Also, be aware of the current rules and recommendations on wearing specific types of mask such as surgical masks or FFP-2 (equivalent to N95 or KN95) masks on public transport.

Additional preventive measures to protect yourself against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 are:

Keep indoor spaces well aired. In enclosed indoor spaces, regular and thorough airing is important to prevent infection. Air your home regularly; in your workplace, open the windows regularly (for a few minutes each time, several times a day).

Stay at home if you experience symptoms. If you have symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and other signs of a cold, you should stay at home and avoid social contact completely if at all possible.

Using the German Corona Warn App: The German app is available in various languages including English. (The language it uses after installation depends on the language your phone uses.) It can show you if you had contact with someone in the past 14 days who could have passed on the SARS-CoV-2 virus to you and it can calculate your individual risk of infection. This makes it easier to understand chains of infection. The Corona Warn App is issued by the Robert Koch Institute and can be downloaded from the usual app stores.

As well as the advice given here, there may also be regional rules and regulations to be aware of.

The rules and recommendations relating to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 can change rapidly. Keep up to date and stay thoroughly informed.

The website infektionsschutz.de run by BZgA (Federal Centre for Health Education) provides comprehensive information that is regularly updated.

A brochure produced by the patient safety alliance APS provides more tips about ways to prevent infection.

English-language tips and recommendations on infection prevention are provided by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Important: Some people avoid attending hospital or doctor’s appointments for fear of catching COVID-19. From a medical point of view, though, it is wrong to postpone or cancel necessary appointments or check-ups for fear of infection. In emergencies it can be essential to get help as quickly as possible. Check-ups should not be delayed either.

If in doubt, you should call the hospital or doctor’s office and ask whether an appointment is possible and how you can best protect yourself from infection while there.

For information about coronavirus vaccinations we recommend the following sources:

• gesund.bund.de, the Federal Health Ministry’s website providing information on a variety of health topics
• infektionsschutz.de, the information website of BZgA (the Federal Centre for Health Education)
• Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for information about infectious diseases and vaccination
• Paul Ehrlich Institute for information and safety reports on drugs and vaccines
• World Health Organization (WHO) for information about coronavirus vaccinations in different languages

Please remember that the information available about the coronavirus can change rapidly. Make sure the information sources you consult are up to date. The sources listed above offer sound scientific information and are continually updated.

Adjuvants are substances that are used to enhance the effects of some vaccines. They are used in inactivated vaccines, such as the influenza vaccine, because the immune system would not give a sufficiently strong reaction to the components of the pathogen in the vaccine on their own.

Adjuvants make the immune response stronger. They can cause side effects, e.g. pain and hardness at the injection site, but these are usually not serious.

The mRNA and vector vaccines do not contain adjuvants. Other vaccines, such as the so-called inactivated vaccines, can contain different adjuvants.

Further information on the use of adjuvants in vaccine development is available from vfa (Germany's association of research based pharmaceutical companies) and in an article in the journal Pharmazeutische Zeitung.