Tests for covid-19

On this page you will find general questions and answers about tests for covid-19.

Questions and answers about testing

Updated: 6 May 2022

There are several types of tests. It is important to notice, that the tests’ results only provide a snapshot, so it is important that you continue to comply with the infection prevention measures, even if you receive a negative test result.

The PCR test is the most sensitive test, with a 90-95% confidence interval in detecting whether a person is infected with covid-19.

A PCR test usually produces a result the following day. The test result only provides a snapshot.

Rapid antigen tests are not quite as sensitive as the PCR test, but provide a test result within 15-30 minutes.

If you test positive with a rapid test, it is no longer recommended that you follow up with a PCR test. You are no longer recommended to contact your close or other contacts. You are still recommended to follow the Danish Health and Medicines Authority's recommendations for self-isolation.

As with the PCR test, rapid antigen tests only provide a snapshot. It is therefore important that you continue to comply with the infection protection recommendations, even if you receive a negative test result.

Please note that public rapid antigen test centres are closed. However, it is possible to pay a private test provider.

There are several types of CE-marked self-tests, which are available at various places such as pharmacies and supermarkets. Self-tests for covid-19 give rapid results and can be taken anywhere, regardless of your vaccination status or whether or not you have symptoms.

A negative self-test does not give a valid corona passport/covid certificate.

If you test positive for a self-test, you are no longer recommended to follow up with a PCR test, unless you have symptoms of covid-19 and are at increased risk of a serious course of covid-19.

You are recommended to get tested if:

  • You have symptoms of covid-19 and you feel sick, and you are at the same time 65 years or older, or for other reasons you are at increased risk of a serious course with covid-19 - this also applies if you are pregnant. You can book an appointment for a PCR test in a public test center at coronaprover.dk or choose to take an antigen self-test. If you are at increased risk and your test is positive, you should contact your own doctor as soon as possible, as it is your doctor who will assess whether you can receive early treatment for covid-19. 
  • You have contacted a doctor due to illness and the doctor assesses the need to know the cause of the symptoms.

To get a PCR-test you need to book an appointment at coronaprover.dk.

If you do not have a Danish social security number, you need to register at covidresults.dk to get a PCR test and see your test result.

You can read more about booking requirements by clicking on a specific test centre on the map of Denmark.

Map of covid-19 test centres

The Danish Health Authority recommends, that you immediately self-isolate to avoid infecting others.

If you have tested positive with self- or rapid test, it is no longer recommended to follow up with a PCR test.

It depends on the severity of your symptoms. Unfold the section that best represent your situation:

If you do not have any symptoms, you can stop self-isolating 4 days after taking a PCR test.

Mild symptoms of covid-19 include such transient symptoms as a runny nose, ‘tickle’ in your throat, a few coughs, etc. You will not be feeling very ill.

If you only have mild symptoms of covid-19, you can stop self-isolating 4 days after you took a PCR test. If your symptoms become more severe, you must continue self-isolating until you no longer have any symptoms.

Severe symptoms leave you feeling quite ill and include fever, persistent coughing, sneezing or difficulty breathing.

If you have had severe symptoms of covid-19, you can stop self-isolating once you no longer have any symptoms – but no sooner than 4 days after you took a PCR test.

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