Can I take stomach medication the day before getting a nucleic acid test?

Under normal circumstances, it is acceptable to take stomach medication the day before undergoing a nucleic acid test. Regular stomach medications do not affect the results of COVID-19 nucleic acid testing. However, you should avoid taking special stomach medicines containing antiviral ingredients. The detailed explanation is as follows:

Common stomach medications—such as acid-suppressing drugs, gastric mucosal protectants, and prokinetic agents—work by regulating the gastric environment and improving digestive function. Their ingredients do not react with the primers or probes used in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing, nor do they disrupt the structure of the virus in the respiratory or digestive tract. Therefore, these medications will not lead to false-positive or false-negative test results.

If, due to a specific medical condition, the stomach medication contains antiviral components (although this is uncommon), it is still recommended to consult your doctor in advance. Such ingredients could theoretically interfere with viral detection, and the doctor can determine whether you need to temporarily discontinue the medication or reschedule the test based on your specific situation.

Patients taking regular stomach medications do not need to stop their medication the day before the test and should continue taking it at the prescribed dose. Avoid eating or drinking for at least 2 hours prior to testing to minimize the risk of nausea or vomiting during sample collection.