OLYMPIA, Wash. – The state Department of Health has made a mistake in reporting COVID-19 test results.
The department says that they have been accidentally including negative antibody test results along with negative molecular test results in the total negative tests they have been reporting since April 21st.
Molecular tests gauge whether a person has an active infection, while antibody tests help determine whether someone was exposed to coronavirus in the past.
The state said it meant to only include molecular test results.
After correcting for the error, health officials say the actual cumulative positive percentage for people tested in Washington jumped from 5.5% to 6.2%.