We’re one year into this dreadful pandemic, and while things are getting better, there’s still a long way to go. Vaccines are out, but until we all get vaccinated, there’s plenty of time left. Covid is still out there, and while we all continue to wear masks, wash our hands and follow social distancing, there’s still a risk of contracting the virus. Therefore, if you ever get infected or are experiencing symptoms, be sure to get yourself tested. You have three options when it comes to testing.
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Covid-19 Antigen tests:
This test is also known as the rapid antigen test that helps identify the foreign covid-19 antigen in the body. It gives you your results much faster than any other molecular test because it’s fairly easy to detect antigens in the body than antibodies or molecular changes for instance. To get a rapid antigen test, your nose and throat swab will be collected and tested for antigens. However this test is prone to errors. It also does not accurately measure an active ongoing infection, which is a huge drawback.
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Covid-19 antibody tests:
Also known as a serological test, this test is used to detect covid antibodies in your bloodstream. An antibody is an immune response that your body generates in response to the presence of a particular antigen. In this case, the covid antigen triggers the production of covid antibodies that fight against a future infection. An antibody test however can only detect a previous infection and not an active ongoing one, because antibodies are formed only after an infection. So it’s not reliable to detect an ongoing one.
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Covid RT-PCR test:
This test detects the presence of mRNA in the throat and nose swab sample. The mRNA is part of the genetic composition of the coronavirus and this detecting for the presence of the proteins that transcribe the virus is what makes this test significantly more reliable that its counterparts. The RT-PCR test is the gold standard of all Covid tests today and can most accurately detect the presence of a real-time ongoing infection. Thus it is most recommended if you are undergoing symptoms of the virus or have travelled, attended a crowded event, met an infected person, etc. It is an extremely safe test and even pregnant women introducing weaning to their children, obese people, hypertensive people can get this test done.
To get an RT-PCR test, you can simply get your samples collected from the comfort of your house, through Mfine! It allows you to book a COVID test at home and delivers your results within 24 hours. Your samples are tested in trusted partner laboratories following which you can discuss the results with well known general physicians around you, on the MFine app itself.
