Searching for COVID testing to suit your needs can be quite an issue, especially when you go online and search for “covid testing near me”. Different tests will be intended for different ends, and thus, being knowledgeable about what you might expect from any given test type in part causes you to make a very informed choice. Sites like CommunityMed Care are very much helpful when searching for ideas as such.
What Are the Different Types of COVID Tests?
PCR Tests
It is very accurate and, therefore, given the name “gold standard of COVID testing”. Nasal and throat swabs are used to detect the presence of viruses. This is made possible when the sample is taken to a laboratory that has the capacity to amplify viral genetic material; hence, it can detect small traces of it.
Although the results from PCR take some time to come out, anything from a few hours to some days depending on how available the labs are, it still is considered the most accurate COVID test.
Rapid Antigen Tests
These tests show their results after 15-30 minutes. The rapid antigen test detects the proteins on the surface of the virus. This makes them faster in the process of detection, when put against the PCR tests. Mostly, this renders them a little less accurate, especially in situations relating to early presentation. They fit in situations where entry must be done very fast, such as events or workplaces.
Since these rapid antigen tests sometimes can miss infections that are caught early, you may want to follow that up with a PCR test if symptoms increase or you think you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID.
Antibody Tests
Instead of searching for an active virus, these tests search for antibodies produced in the body after previous exposure. They require a blood sample and can show if you have been exposed to COVID previously, even if the symptoms do not appear.
Choosing the Right COVID Test for Your Needs
The type of COVID test anyone does actually depends on their goals and timeline. When the need for accuracy is high-for example, pre-surgical testing, or even travel requirements, the best thing you can do is go for the PCR test. If it is speed that is in order, say, for admission to events, then rapid antigen is your best bet. Antibody tests provide some insight into immune history but don’t signal active infection.
What to Consider to Get Accurate Results
Wait some time before you go for a test. Taking it too early after exposure can really give you misleading results. The virus for COVID will not appear just after being exposed to an infected person. Most likely the professionals suggest that if one has a known exposure, appearance will take at least 5 to 7 days. That’s when they should go to get accurate COVID testing.
At CommunityMed Care, you can find a variety of tests for everything COVID-related.
Final Thoughts
When you know the types of “ COVID testing near me” when to use them can make all the difference. Each has its own qualities like accuracy, risk probability exposure, or past exposures. Once you complete a test for COVID, it will make you feel a good peace of mind with friends and family.
