
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a novel virus called SARS-CoV-2. Most people infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic (do not exhibit any symptoms). A few may have mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, dry cough and fatigue, sore throat, headache, body pain, and loss of smell and taste. In a small group of people, COVID-19 may cause respiratory distress presenting as difficulty in breathing, grunting, or noisy breathing (wheezing). Severe COVID-19 infection is associated with a high fatality rate.
Seeking early care if you have any respiratory symptoms and getting promptly tested will help you getting timely treatment and avoiding the development of complications.
Who should get tested?
The current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) health guidelines for getting the tests done are as follows:
- All individuals who exhibit the symptoms of COVID-19 must get tested after consulting their healthcare provider.
- Individuals who were in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case (within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) must get tested. The contact is the period considered within a period starting from two days before the illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days prior to testing specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.
- Asymptomatic screening may be mandated by a health authority if you have traveled to an area with a high prevalence of patients with COVID-19 in the last 14 days or if you are undergoing any medical procedure.
What is the difference between the types of tests available for COVID-19?
Getting tested for COVID-19 can identify you as a positive or negative patient of the disease. Remember no test is 100% accurate. Different methods of testing have been launched to trace COVID-19 infection. These are as follows:
- The test to diagnose active infection:
- Molecular test/real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test/nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) test
- Rapid antigen test
Sr. No. | RT-PCR test/NAAT test | Rapid antigen test |
1. | It detects the presence of the viral particle (viral ribonucleic acid [RNA]). | It detects a specific protein in the body that triggers an immune response to COVID-19 infection. |
2. | Results are available within one to seven days depending on your locality. | Results are rapid and may be obtained in 1-24 hours. |
3. | It is the best test available to confirm COVID-19 infection. The test is accurate around 60-95% of the time when properly conducted. | Compared with the NAAT test, this test has low sensitivity (around 56%). This means that there is more risk of missing an actively infected person with this test. |
4. | A nasal swab (from the nares) or nasopharyngeal swab (from the back of the throat) is collected for testing. | A nasal or nasopharyngeal swab is collected for testing. |
- Tests to diagnose the past COVID-19 infection: A level of serum IgG antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 is measured for detecting any past infection.
- The detection rate for SARS-CoV-2–IgG was 30% in the first week of infection,
- 66% in the second week, and
- 88% in the third week.
- SARS-CoV-2 antibody test
- Is done through blood or finger prick.
- Should not be used for detecting active infection.
- Reports may take one to three days to come.
- Detects the body’s response to COVID-19 infection.
A positive antibody testing does not mean that you are immune to COVID-19 in the future.
Testing kits for COVID-19:
The following test kits are available in the market for sample collection. Most of the testing kits use the RT-PCR method to diagnose the virus.
- Rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tests use a mucus sample from your nose or throat. This test is done at the doctor’s clinic where the sample is collected, and the results are available in minutes. These tests may be molecular- or antigen-based.
- Combination tests are used for the detection of flu and coronavirus at the same time. Some can test for many different types of respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
- Saliva tests allow a patient to spit into a tube rather than get use their nose or throat swabs. Some people may prefer the saliva test to swabs. These are also safer for healthcare workers while sampling collection.
- At-home collection tests, available only by prescription from a doctor, allow the patient to collect the sample from the back of the throat and send it directly to the lab
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
1. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-diagnosis?
2. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19
3. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/coronavirus-disease-2019-testing-basics#:~:text=Different%20Types%20of%20Coronavirus%20Tests&text=Negative%20results%20may%20need%20to,is%20needed%20for%20accurate%20results.&text=Antigen%20tests%20are%20more%20likely,infection%20compared%20to%20molecular%20tests. 4. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/open-america/testing.html
Top Tests Available for COVID-19? Related Articles
Can Diarrhea Be an Initial Symptom of COVID-19?
COVID-19 has become a common illness that affects many people. Learn the signs of COVID-19, what causes it, how doctors diagnose it, and what you can do to treat it.Coronavirus COVID-19 Prevention: Test Your Medical IQ
What's really the best way to prevent the spread of new coronavirus COVID-19? Should wear a mask or not? Take this quiz to find out!COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Articles of Interest
Read about COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease. See interesting articles related to vitamins and supplements to boost immunity, symptoms, prevention, vaccines, historical comparisons to past pandemics, and more.COVID-19 vs. Allergies
Though there is some overlap in allergy and COVID-19 signs and symptoms there are also significant differences. Symptoms that they have in common include headache, fatigue, tiredness, shortness of breath, wheezing, and sore throat. Fever does not occur with allergies but is one of the defining symptoms of COVID-19 infections.COVID-19 vs. Flu vs. Cold
When you're feeling sick, it can be difficult to distinguish the symptoms of a COVID-19 infection from the symptoms of the common cold or the flu (influenza). While fever is common with the flu and COVID-19, sneezing is typically only associated with colds. Though sore throats are typical with colds, they are uncommon with COVID-19 infections and the flu.What Is Endotracheal Intubation?
Doctors perform endotracheal intubation when a patient cannot breathe on their own, whether it is due to surgery, disease, or an emergency. Endotracheal intubation is the safest way of providing breathing support to COVID-19 coronavirus disease patients who have severe lung symptoms.How Do the COVID-19 Coronavirus Tests Work?
Tests used for detection of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) may use two methods to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cause of COVID-19 disease, a debilitating and potentially deadly viral pneumonia. Genomic or molecular detection confirms the presence of viral DNA. The immunoglobulin or serology tests can tell whether or not you have been exposed to coronavirus, but not whether you are currently infected. Both tests administered in tandem can give you your complete COVID-19 infection status.How Does the Flu Affect the Immunocompromised?
Influenza, or the flu, is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. It is generally a mild illness that can be treated at home with over-the-counter medications and rest. However, for people with compromised immune systems, the flu can be much more serious. This includes the increased risk of complications, prolonged illness, weakened immune system, and increased risk of death.How Long Is a COVID-19 Patient Contagious?
People infected with COVID-19 can still be contagious even when they stop feeling sick, so precautionary measures should continue for at least 2 weeks after symptoms disappear and until the COVID-19 test result is negative. Ideally, patients should be quarantined at home or an institution for 2 weeks after the symptoms completely disappear.How to Differentiate Between the Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19, Allergies, Cold, and Flu?
Coronavirus disease or COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Most people with COVID-19 will experience a mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without the need for intensive or special treatment. Serious illness is more likely in elderly people and those with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer.Skin Problems: Rosacea, Acne, Shingles, Covid-19 Rashes
Learn to spot and treat skin conditions commonly found in adults such as acne, Covid-19 rashes, eczema, shingles, psoriasis, rosacea, hives, cold sores, razor bumps, athlete's foot, and more dermatology details.What Drugs May Fight COVID-19? Drug Trials, Treatments, Vaccines
What drugs could help fight coronavirus COVID-19? Clinical studies are ongoing for antiviral drugs like hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine remdesivir, lopinavir and favipiravir, as well as COVID-19 vaccines. Learn why anti-flu respiratory drugs and home remedies may prove useful to treat or prevent serious coronavirus infections.What Is Considered to Be Fever for COVID-19?
A body temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher is generally seen in people with COVID-19, although not everyone who is infected with the virus will develop a fever. Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear 2-14 days after exposure to infection. Other COVID-19 symptoms may include cough, runny nose, body aches, headache, sore throat, difficulty breathing, nausea with or without vomiting, diarrhea, loss of taste, loss of smell, and abdominal pain.COVID-19 (Coronavirus, 2019-nCoV)
Infection with COVID-19 (2019 novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV) causes respiratory problems in humans. Transmission of COVID-19 occurs mainly through contact with respiratory sections from an infected person, however, fecal contamination may also spread the virus. Symptoms start off flu-like and progress to coughing, fever, shortness of breath, shaking chills, headache, loss of sense of taste and/or smell, muscle pain, and sore throat. Treatment focuses on supportive care and symptom relief. COVID-19 vaccines are available.Coronavirus COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Pandemic Outbreak: What You Need to Know
A new strain of coronavirus (COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2) was reported from Wuhan, China in December, 2019. This outbreak of respiratory flu-like symptoms has quickly spread resulting in a worldwide pandemic. Learn about symptoms, treatment, prevention and vaccine efforts.Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Prevention Quiz
Why is coronavirus considered dangerous? What are the symptoms you should look for? Take this COVID-19 prevention quiz to learn how to protect yourself.