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Testing for the COVID-19 Infection

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Testing for the COVID-19 Infection

As we all know, COVID-19 cases have reached over 75 million worldwide, the easy availability of its testing is also crucial to identify and control the spread. Many companies even provide free COVID-19 testing and the information regarding these companies or locations can be found on the internet easily.

There are mainly three types of tests, molecular and antigen also known as diagnostic tests, and antibody, also known as serological tests. Diagnostic tests detect if you are currently infected with the virus while antibody or serological tests identify if you had been previously infected by the virus.

Molecular Diagnostic Test

In respiratory infections as COVID-19, molecular tests help to identify the existence of the virus in the sample. The particular technique is known as Reverse Transcription - Polymerase Chain Reaction or RT-PCR. In this, the genetic material from the sample is replicated and compared to the genetic material of the virus you are trying to determine. With a COVID-19 infection, the virus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 is usually detected in the upper and lower respiratory specimen.

In this, a 6-inch long swab is inserted into the back of the nasal passage through a nostril and is rotated several times for 15 seconds. This is repeated with the other nostril and then it is sent for testing in a container.

Most of the RT-PCR tests provide results between a few hours to a few days. Also, some rapid diagnostic tests even provide results in less than an hour.

A positive result shows that you have an active COVID-19 infection. However, there is a slim chance that you get a false positive, which means that you don't have a COVID-19 infection, but your test result is positive.

Similarly, a negative molecular test result states that the COVID-19 causing virus is not found in the sample over the detection limit, but it is still likely that you have a very low level of virus in your body.

Antigen Diagnostic Tests

They are the latest in the diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 and they are also less costly. These tests determine the presence of specific proteins on the virus’s surface. The samples for antigen diagnostic tests are obtained just like molecular tests. The collected sample or swab is placed in a tube with particular samples to determine the proteins.

 

The main advantage of antigen tests over molecular tests is that antigen tests are rapid, whose result can be obtained in around 15 minutes. It does not require any special equipment or tools.

Antigen tests are fast but not very accurate, which means that there can be more false negatives as compared to molecular tests. However, they provide very specific positive results with high accuracy of virus detection.

In a nutshell, if your antigen test result is positive, it is accurate but if your result is negative, you may want to confirm it with a molecular test.

Antibody or Serological Test

The serological test can determine if the person had an infection and was recovered. They detect antibodies in the blood sample collected for a serological test.

Your body develops antibodies when exposed to the virus. These antibodies are proteins your body makes in response to the invading germs. Serological tests help in the identification of these proteins developed. The results for these tests take around 1 to 2 days.

Serological tests are not useful to identify current infection. They can only detect if the person had the infection and recovered because of the proteins present in the blood.

Final Consideration

When you are having symptoms of the COVID-19 infection, getting it tested is very essential. For an active COVID-19 infection, a molecular test will be the most accurate. If you want to determine whether you had a COVID-19 infection and recovered, serological tests are highly recommended.

Considering the spread of COVID-19 infection, having yourself tested and treated is very essential. Scroll the internet for all the paid and free COVID-19 testing sites in Milwaukee.

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