Health Services began offering COVID-19 testing at no cost to county residents in April 2020. This was done at various locations throughout the county, on a weekly basis. There are many options for the rt pcr test, and it is easy to get confused. Two types of tests can be used to test for COVID-19: diagnostic tests and antibodies tests. A viral test can detect a current infection, but an antibody test might not.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
If you are diagnosed with coronavirus infection, you may need to have a diagnostic test. This will determine whether you should quarantine yourself or isolate yourself from other people. There are two types of diagnostic tests currently available: antigen and molecular tests. Both tests are available at no cost in all hospitals across the country.
Both chemical and molecular tests
Molecular tests such as real-time polymerase chains reaction (RTPCR) are used to determine the virus' genetic material. PCR tests are the best and most reliable method to detect coronavirus infection. It is very accurate and does not require frequent testing.
Antigen tests
Antigen tests are used to test for specific proteins in the virus. They can be performed on samples. Most antigen tests can be performed with a nasopharyngeal or nasal swab. Results may take between 15 and 30 minutes depending on what test was performed. Antigen tests are highly in demand by the general public.
Antibody Tests
Antibody tests test your blood for antibodies. This may help determine if you have ever been infected with COVID-19. A drop of blood may suffice for most tests. However, some tests require blood to be drawn for specific purposes. OneBlood tests all blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies. Although antibody tests can give quick results, they are not the most accurate way to diagnose someone with an active infection. Sometimes it can take several days or even weeks to produce enough antibodies for a test to identify the patient. No matter if you are positive or negative for COVID-19, it is important to take precautions to protect yourself and others. It is impossible to predict how much protection the antibodies to the virus will offer against infection again. Therefore, you need to continue taking steps to keep yourself and others safe.
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