Testing for Covid-19 is vital in order to contain and track the spread of the disease. Since the beginning of the disease many ways to test it have been created. Whether they are used at home or by doctors, every test is important. There are saliva tests for Covid as well as mucus or blood tests.
There are two main categories of tests: diagnostics that look for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and blood tests that show the presence of antibodies.
The real question is, which type test is best for you? Here’s everything to know about each kind.
The Right Test for You
Your ultimate goal is what determines the best test for you. Whether it’s to confirm an active infection of the disease, identify asymptomatic patients, or discover if you’ve had Covid before there is the perfect test for you. There is not a single test that will meet every need or solve every problem.
If your goal is to know if you currently have the disease then a diagnostic test is the best option for you. There are two kinds of diagnostic tests: rapid and laboratory. Rapid tests give results in mere minutes; however, although they take a bit longer, laboratory tests are a little more reliable.
If your goal is to learn if you’ve had the virus previously then an antibody test is the best option. The body produces antibodies in order to fight diseases, if you have specific antibodies present in your system then it means that you’ve recently had Covid even if you had done your Covid test.
Laboratory Diagnostic Tests
Laboratories use RNA tests in order to detect the virus. One type of laboratory test is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. They use this test in order to detect the virus’ genetic material in your system. These tests can take a few days to get results but are highly sensitive.
However, the Covid material can be detected in your system for up to three months. Laboratory tests will be able to determine if you’ve had Covid, but not if you have it now or had it in the past.
Antigen Diagnostic Tests
Antigen tests, also known as rapid tests, are much quicker than RNA tests. They are also cheaper to produce, ideal for quick and easy mass testing. However, they are less accurate.
These tests are more likely to miss an active infection of Covid. However, they almost never lead to false positives. So if a rapid test is positive you definitely have Covid, but if it comes out negative, you might want to double check.
Antibody Tests
Antibody tests are also known as serology or blood tests. These tests search for antibodies in your system to determine if you’ve had Covid in the past; however, cannot detect if you currently have the virus. The test will also show you to have antibodies if you’ve had one of the Covid-19 vaccines.
There are no at-home antibody tests, so in order to procure one you’ll need to see a healthcare specialist.
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