Is it possible that a non-rapid positive COVID test could be a mistake?

Question

Like, could they have just accidentally mixed up the results?

Answer 1

Extremely unlikely.  At the center where I work, the sample vial has a barcode on it, which is scanned into a computer, and hard to mix up.  The vial goes into a bag that has the patient's name, data of birth, and the barcode number on it, so there are multiple ways of tracing it.  Also, if there is any known issue with the sample (like it doesn't have enough mucus, or the vial popped open, or might have gotten mixed up, ...), the test is marked as invalid, and we re-test.

Answer 2

Very unlikely.  Hopefully you haven't tested positive for one of the new strains of Covid-19.  For many people, a positive test is akin to a death sentence.

Answer 3

While possible, it’s pretty rare actually and specimens are labeled immediately, bar coded, so rarely mixed up. 

Answer 4

It's unlikely they mixed up the results, but as with any medical test the results can be inconclusive or wrong.

Answer 5

Mistakes are always possible, in test results and anything else you care to name.

Answer 6

Of course there could be errors.

the NFL had 75 players test positive due to a lab error.