Has anyone heard that a certain temperature (fever) is required for Covid-19 testing?

[pnwmom]

A close friend now has cold/fu symptoms, after being exposed to her mother, who was officially notified that she'd been exposed to coronavirus on a plane flight.

The friend has recently had treatment for cancer, and wants to be tested now for the virus, but she was told she couldn't get a test unless her temp was 104 or higher.

I haven't heard of that number anywhere. Is that true?

[elleng]

1. Haven't heard that,

doesn't sound reasonable.

[drray23]

2. It's one of the criterion they have.

Which has not to do with whether the test would work or not but rather that they are rationing the testing. It's stupid and is going to change rapidly because states (like mine , Virginia) are setting up their own testing facilities independently of the CDC.

[Crunchy Frog]

3. They probably pulled it out of their ass, just because they don't have enough test kits.

I've never heard any such thing, especially since symptoms can be very mild in some people, but that doesn't make them any less contagious.

I hope your friend can get the care and testing that she needs.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. 104 is almost dead. No way could you be walking

around in that state, you'd be crawling.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. I have heard that, but 101, not 104.

104 is a very high temp for an adult and is a serious situation, while 101 is indicative of an infection but not an emergency. I've read in several places that the two most important symptoms they look for are a cough and a fever.

[hlthe2b]

5. Here is the link for the latest criteria which includes fever, but does not specify magnitude

of elevation. However, clinically an elevation is usually not considered significant until it reaches 100.4 or higher. (Normal being 98.6)

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-criteria.html

[frazzled]

13. Note that many if not most people do not have a normal body temperature of 98.6

It’s usually lower, especially in older people. My normal temperature is usually 97.3 or lower. A fever is usually considered to be 1 degree centigrade over normal.

So if you have a temp of 99.5 but are normally 97.3, then you have a fever.

[hlthe2b]

21. That's why the criteria does not specify. It is "fever" as defined for the individual by the doc

[pnwmom]

14. Thanks! I'm wondering if the mother or daughter misheard 100.4 as 104.

Because 104 makes no sense.

[Dorian Gray]

20. That's probably the case...

104 is extreme for an adult. (Kids can shoot that high without as much concern.)

[dflprincess]

6. According to Mayo Clinic's website

You should get concerned when an adult' s temp hits 103. And that is for any illness, not just Covid19.

Depending on other symptoms you may not necessarily need medical attention for a temp under 103. But, I stress again that's general information not specific to this virus.

[leftstreet]

7. Interesting

Curious about the same thing

Friend in Bellingham was told no testing unless fever of 'at least 103.'

But it's hard to say if that's coming from any official guideline, or just individual clinic determinations

[hlthe2b]

9. I like to CDC's actual updated criteria in post#5

[Glimmer of Hope]

10. Temperature criteria for cancer patients should be lower it seems especially if blood counts are low

I hope she contacts her cancer care team and gets the testing she needs.

[dalton99a]

11. CDC says the person is reportable if 100.4 or higher for more than 48 hours

Report to CDC travelers with specific symptoms arriving from China.

Report travelers with

fever (person feels warm to the touch, gives a history of feeling feverish, or has an actual measured temperature of 100.4°F [38° C] or higher) that has persisted for more than 48 hours

OR

fever AND one of the following:
persistent cough
difficulty breathing
appears obviously unwell

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/air/managing-sick-travelers/ncov-airlines.html

[blm]

12. 100.4

[dewsgirl]

15. This is outrageous, many temps from 101 and up.

Which state is it?

[pnwmom]

16. WA. I think there must have been miscommunication somewhere. n/t

[dewsgirl]

18. The way they are running things it's possible there

wasn't, in the back of my mind I keep thinking they are still avoiding testing at this point when they can get away with it to avoid adding to the numbers.
Many of the state's numbers, I believe are much higher than stated and I keep reading about presumptive cases that have yet to be added.

[lettucebe]

17. Pretty sure a temp of 104 requires a trip to hospital

There's absolutely no way that would be a requirement. That high a temp in an adult can be deadly

[SoCalDem]

19. 104 in an adult is dangerous as hell

She needs a new doctor...especially with her current health issues