You are reading information about COVID-19 tests. A disease that did not exist just two years ago, and which can now affect someone around you at any moment.
It is no wonder that you are still getting lost in information about coronavirus tests. No one prepared us to become amateur diagnosticians. In this article, we will compare antigen, serological and genetic tests in terms of how easy and quickly they can be performed. We will also explain when it is worth choosing a specific type of test for SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
When is it worth getting tested for coronavirus?
COVID-19 is extremely easy to confuse with seasonal flu, a cold or fatigue. However, given its high contagiousness, it is worth not ignoring even mildly troublesome symptoms. Typical symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection include:
- fever
- a dry cough, which may later develop into a wet cough
- general fatigue without an apparent cause
- headache, muscle, joint or throat pain
- loss of smell or taste
- diarrhea
- conjunctivitis
- chills
- runny nose
- nausea and vomiting.
It is also good practice to take a coronavirus test when we suspect that we have been in contact with an infected person in recent days. By taking responsible action, we can slow the spread of the pathogen and thus help save many lives.
Types of coronavirus tests.
We can use three types of tests to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the body. Only antigen and serological tests sold in cassettes resembling pregnancy tests can be performed independently. Medical facilities additionally offer genetic tests, which must be carried out in laboratory conditions.
Taking a coronavirus test. When is it easiest?
To take a test at a public healthcare facility, you need to obtain a referral for COVID-19 testing. A doctor issues it following a personal or, much more often, telephone conversation with the patient. Recently, a referral can also be obtained by completing a form on the official website of the Ministry of Health.
After obtaining a referral, you must go to a collection point, avoiding public transport. This is a considerable difficulty not only for people without cars, but also for those showing clear symptoms of the disease. Driving is difficult in such a situation. A test at a medical facility must of course be performed for genetic testing. However, antigen and serological tests are much easier to perform at home.
What do antigen, genetic RT-PCR and serological tests detect?
Antigen tests detect antigens that occur on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and are characteristic of it. Molecular (genetic) tests detect one or two genetic sequences of the virus. That is why these two types of tests can be performed during an active infection. Since October 30, 2020, a positive antigen test result has been the same basis for diagnosing COVID-19 as a genetic test. The only condition is that a patient tested with an antigen test must simultaneously show symptoms of the disease for a diagnosis to be made.
Serological tests detect the presence of coronavirus antibodies. It takes about 7 days for the body to produce them in the case of IgM antibodies, or even 14 days in the case of IgG antibodies. For this reason, these tests are used exclusively for screening purposes, to detect infections that occurred in the past.
The material tested in genetic and antigen tests is a nasopharyngeal swab. Collecting it is not among the most pleasant activities. Therefore, antigen tests using saliva can also be performed nowadays. A drop of blood collected from a previously pricked finger is sufficient for a serological test.
Which SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus test can be done the fastest?
The laboratory tests themselves do not take much time. Even the result of a genetic test can be obtained within a few hours. Unfortunately, laboratories are currently extremely overloaded. That is why we usually receive test results only after several days.
Home antigen and serological tests can be performed in 15 minutes. The preparation and reading of the instructions take 5 minutes. The waiting time for the result is 10 minutes. In addition, rapid cassette tests can currently be purchased in advance and used immediately when the need arises.
Where can you buy a COVID-19 test to detect antibodies or antigens?
The easiest way to make a purchase is online. On the testnakoronawirus.pl website, you will find all available home cassette tests. The tests purchased here have a sensitivity above 80% and specificity greater than 97%, in accordance with WHO recommendations. This means that the chance of false-positive and false-negative results is marginal.