tested positive for vs were positive for

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Tested positive for' is used when referring to the result of a test, indicating that the person was tested and the result was positive. 'Were positive for' is used when stating that someone had a positive status without explicitly mentioning the test. The choice between the two depends on the specific context and the level of detail needed.

Last updated: April 01, 2024 • 595 views

tested positive for

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to the result of a test showing a positive outcome.

This phrase is used when reporting the outcome of a test, indicating that the person being tested has a positive result for a particular condition or substance.

Examples:

He tested positive for COVID-19.
The athlete tested positive for banned substances.
She tested positive for drugs in the screening.
The patient tested positive for the virus.
The blood sample tested positive for the presence of antibodies.

Show examples from the web [+]

The congressman tested positive for the same strain of chlamydia as the victim.
One of them tested positive for meningitis.
You have tested positive for chlamydia.
Because you have tested positive for syphilis.
But she tested positive for pseudoephedrine.
I'm afraid you've tested positive for malignancy.
Patient tested positive for syphilis, right?
I'm afraid that you have tested positive for chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, hepatitis, pancreatitis, trichomonitis, nongonococcal urethritis.
The belt tested positive for lead.
You tested positive for the risk factor genes.
Miss Queen tested positive for a narcotic called Vertigo.
Holbrook's blood tested positive for Rohypnol.
Mr Chambers tested positive for haemophilia A.
I tested positive for the BRCA1 mutation.
This patient tested positive for IgE.
Both bodies tested positive for large amounts of opiates.
You've tested positive for chlamydia.
Patient tested positive for herpetic encephalitis.
So, the Mylar strip definitely tested positive for thallium.
I just did a pregnancy test and I... tested positive for baby.

Alternatives:

was found to be positive for
had a positive result for
showed positive for
was diagnosed with
was confirmed to have

were positive for

This phrase is correct and is used to state that someone had a positive status without explicitly mentioning the test.

This phrase is used to directly state that someone had a positive status for a particular condition or substance, without specifying the testing process.

Examples:

They were positive for the virus.
The samples were positive for contamination.
The patients were positive for the disease.
The individuals were positive for drug use.
The results were positive for the presence of toxins.

Show examples from the web [+]

Only 9% of cats with FIP were positive for FeLV, which confirms the downward trend of the two diseases simultaneously than ever before. Compared to IVF is no cat in this study tested positive.
Among the 13 regular smokers, all breath samples were positive for THC at 0.89 h, 76.9% at 1.38 h, and 53.8% at 2.38 h, and only 1 sample was positive at 4.2 h after smoking.
(6) If any of the results were positive for the following serotypes during the life of the parent flock, indicate as positive: Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Virchow and Salmonella Hadar.
(7) If any of the results were positive for the serotypes below during the life of the flock, indicate as positive:
Scientists compared 337 subjects involved in accidents, of whom 161 were positive for alcohol and/or other drugs, with 2726 randomly selected drivers, of whom 301 were positive for alcohol and/or other drugs.
Already in 2006 the operating results (EBIT) of FBS were positive for the first time.
52/ 54 patients (96%) treated with Naglazyme across studies were positive for antibodies to galsulfase.
Study WV16240 recruited patients who were positive for HBeAg, while study WV16241 recruited patients who were negative for HBeAg and positive for anti-HBe.
Out of all the tests, 72.5% were negative, while 14.5% were positive for several abnormalities. In 7.8% of the cases, the sample was insufficient for proper analysis, and 5.4% of the tests are still waiting to be analysed.
Berman's hands were positive for GSR.

Alternatives:

had a positive status for
showed positive results for
were confirmed to have
were diagnosed with
were identified as positive for

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tested positive for vs were positive for