If I tested positive for COVID-19 previously, but I test negative for T cells, what does this mean?

There are two reasons this might happen:

• An antibody or antigen (molecular) test could have resulted in a false positive, meaning you did not have the disease and therefore would not have T cells.
• Studies show that T cells typically remain in the body long after antibodies, but it is unclear exactly how long they remain after a COVID-19 infection. Therefore, it is possible to have had COVID-19 and for T cells to have diminished by the time of testing to a number that is not detectable by laboratory tests.

Talk with your doctor if you previously tested positive for COVID-19 and then tested negative for T cells.