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Know The Difference Between RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Test | Fortis Hospitals Bangalore - Recent Posts
Know The Difference Between Rapid Antigen and PCR Test: COVID
What is the difference between rapid pcr test and rt pcr test
Advancements in technology have allowed healthcare professionals to make COVID tests widely available for our safety. COVID is often characterized by symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, loss of the sense of taste or smell, fatigue, shortness of breath - just to name a few. Meanwhile, an antibody test , which is usually a blood test, identifies how many antibodies your immune system has produced to fight against COVID, due to a previous COVID infection or vaccination.
Below, we will provide an overview on all three types of COVID tests, the difference between them, and a guide on which best suits your needs. Point-of-care, laboratory-based, and self-tests are currently authorized for use. They can be performed on nasal or nasopharyngeal swab specimens placed directly into the extraction buffer or reagent. Antigen tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus SARS-CoV are affordable, fast, and suitable for people of any age.
Most antigen tests return results in approximately 15—30 minutes. These rapid COVID tests tend to be less sensitive than other nucleic acid amplification tests, which detect and amplify the presence of viral nucleic acid. However, nucleic acid amplification tests NAATs can produce positive results several weeks after initial infection.
They can detect levels of viral nucleic acid even when the virus cannot be cultured. At that point, the amount of antigen is typically low and could go undetected even though the patient has COVID Advertising Policy.
You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Related Articles. The sample is mixed with a solution that is then applied to a paper strip. If the COVID virus is present, the mixture will interact with the strip and give a visual result that is easy to interpret.
Antigen tests are low-cost , efficient, and require little equipment or specialized staff. This makes them optimal for situations where results are needed right away or when large groups of people are being tested at the same time.
Positive results can be trusted, but because high viral loads are required for a positive result it is possible to get a false negative if the patient has a lower viral load.
Which test you decide on depends on your circumstances. If you need results quickly, the Rapid Antigen test can tell you in minutes if you currently have the virus or not. For more accurate results that are not immediate, the RT-PCR test can reveal if you have or have had the virus. My Bookings. Book an Appointment. Home Blog. Pharmacy December 9, am. Symptomatic patients who got in touch with individuals already confirmed with coronavirus infection.
This particular lab test has a specificity rate — meaning it can identify individuals without disease of nearly percent and a sensitivity rate — the ability to identify those with COVID by 67 percent. However, if the sample is not collected properly by a professionally trained lab technician, the result can give a false negative. The swab samples are analyzed for reagents to identify the presence of the virus.
This test can detect the virus even before the emergence of symptoms and aid in isolation, preventing the further spread of infection. If the test turns out positive, the patient is required to follow all COVID protocols, including self-isolation, taking recommended medications, eating healthy, checking for vitals including oxygen saturation.
The rapid antigen test comes in handy only while detecting patients who are quite symptomatic. It is also done by collecting samples from the nose or throat with a swab.
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