Since the outbreak of coronavirus began its widespread spread, we've gradually learned about the myriad of tests at doctor's offices and health centers, most of which are based on mucus, as well as others that use blood or saliva. How can you choose the most appropriate test for your needs considering all the options? Are they identical? Or give you the exact same information?

We'll start with the fundamentals. There are two main types of COVID-19 testsavailable: diagnostic tests that seek out coronavirus infections that are active in saliva or mucus as well as blood tests that hunt for antibodies that show your immune system is infected with the infection before.

Let's say your doctor orders an examination to rule out or confirm the possibility of a coronavirus infection. However, even among those בדיקות קורונה PCR, important differences exist. There are two methods to detect SARS CoV-2 which is the virus responsible for COVID-19. Antigen tests are tests that examine the virus's coating. Other tests detect the coronavirus' nucleic acid (such the RNA).

High-sensitivity RNA tests can be utilized. The tests can remain positive even if someone isn't ill or has stopped spreading viruses which could spread to others.

Although antigen tests are fast and cost-effective but they're not always as exact than RNA tests to identify the coronavirus that is not yet known. Testing for antigens is more prone to false negative results. This means they are more likely not to detect active infection.

Finding the COVID test that is the right one

The right test, then, depends on the goal to confirm that there is an active COVID infection and identifying pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic people who may be shed virus, or determining whether someone previously had COVID. There isn't a single test procedure that will satisfy all your requirements and resolve all of your issues.

Here are the facts about COVID testing, their purpose, and what they can provide to you.

The Molecular Test (aka PCR or RNA test)

These tests are thought to be to be the most accurate in identifying an active infection. the results are highly accurate. If you suspect that you have COVID, you might be required to test it. The test could be mandatory if your employer or college requires proof that you aren't currently infected prior to returning to school or work.

In the majority of cases, a health professional will extract mucus from your nose or throat by using a special swab. (Some molecular tests currently use saliva, which some people prefer.) Molecular tests are often called בדיקת קורונה, short for polymerase chain reaction, a method used in labs to identify the genetic material of the virus according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Mayo Clinic explains that turnaround times can vary from minutes to days, dependent on whether the sample was sent to an outside laboratory or was analyzed on site.

Antigen test (aka rapid test)

This kind of test for diagnosing is commonly known as a "rapid test" because the turnaround time is much shorter than an RNA test. It is also simpler to prepare. As a result, antigen tests are used to screen huge numbers of people for example, at airports, as a recent article in the journal Nature points out.

The testing of antigens is very like molecular testing from the patient's perspective. The health professional will swab the back of your throat or nose to take a sample for testing. Instead of waiting for days for your results An antigen test could yield results in one hour or less, says the FDA. If you test positive, it's probably correct The tests for antigen are extremely exact. The problem is, the tests are more likely to miss active infection. The doctor might recommend molecular test to eliminate false positives if you have signs of COVID.

Antibody test (aka serology test, also known as blood test)

The test is designed to detect antibodies against the coronavirus. Antibodies are proteins the immune system produces to defend against foreign invaders like viruses. The COVID-19 antibody test isn't able to detect active coronavirus. It only tells you whether you've been infected at an earlier time even if it happened some time ago. Antibodies don't show up until at least several days after an infection has started.

There are no FDA-approved test for antibodies at home. You'll have to see a health care professional and they will collect the blood sample using a finger prick or a blood draw from a vein within your arm. Most of these tests are performed in a central laboratory which may take a few days to complete. But the FDA has just granted the first anti-bodies point-of-care coronavirus test. This makes it possible for doctors' clinics, hospitals, urgent care centers, as well as emergency rooms, to receive an answer in just 15 minutes using blood from a fingertip of a person.

Antibody testing has a role to play in the current pandemic because it can provide information on the incidence of the disease within the population as well as the prevalence of asymptomatic infections according to the FDA.