What's "presumptive positive?"

Emily Litella might have asked, "What's this about "presumptive positive?"

A presumptive positive result using a local test is treated as a positive result.

A state public health agency can take action and start coordinated response such as additional testing and contact tracing.

There are three levels to a possible COVID infection:

1. Person Under Investigation, also PUI: Anyone who is being checked for the virus, or who was under investigation but tested negative.
   
   
2. Presumptive Positive: Anyone positive by testing at the local or state level. Presumptive positive cases must be confirmed by the CDC.
   
   
3. Laboratory-confirmed case has tested positive for the virus at the CDC laboratory.