Does taking antiallergic medication affect nucleic acid testing?
Dec 04, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Ren Yi
Introduction
Taking antiallergic medication does not affect nucleic acid test results; routine antiallergic drugs can be taken as usual. However, special antiallergic medications containing specific antiviral ingredients require prior consultation with a doctor. If you need to undergo a nucleic acid test while taking antiallergic medication regularly, there is no need for excessive anxiety. Before testing, prepare a list of your medications and proactively inform the testing site staff about your medication use, and cooperate fully with standardized sample collection procedures.
Under normal circumstances, taking antiallergic medications does not affect the results of nucleic acid testing for COVID-19, and routine antiallergic drugs can be taken as usual. However, special antiallergic medications containing specific antiviral ingredients should be discussed with a doctor in advance. The detailed analysis is as follows:
Common antiallergic drugs such as loratadine and cetirizine primarily work by blocking histamine receptors to relieve allergic symptoms. Their components do not interact with the primers or probes used in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing, nor do they disrupt the viral structure in the respiratory or digestive tract. Therefore, these medications will not cause false-positive or false-negative test results, and individuals with allergies may take them at regular doses.
If, due to special medical conditions, an antiallergic medication containing antiviral components is being taken—although this is uncommon—theoretically it might interfere with viral detection. Such patients should inform their doctor about their medication use in advance. The doctor will then determine whether it is necessary to temporarily discontinue the medication or reschedule the test based on the drug's ingredients and the patient’s condition, thus avoiding reduced testing accuracy due to medication effects.
There is no need for excessive anxiety about undergoing nucleic acid testing while routinely taking antiallergic medications. Before testing, patients can prepare a list of their current medications and proactively inform staff at the testing site about their drug use, while also cooperating fully with standardized sampling procedures.
