COVID-19 Testing and All It Is About

It is no secret that the recent viral pandemic has been one of the most significant biological disasters in recent history. The onset of the unknown covid-19 virus left a lot of chaos and deaths due to the lack of effective treatment plans, its mutating nature, and the ease with which it can be transferred from one person to another. However, after some time studying the virus during the pandemic, doctors have been able to develop viable treatment and management plans for patients affected. Continue reading for any Sugar Land Covid test inquiries.

What happens during Covid-19 testing?

COVID-19 testing is necessary when dealing with this virus. Being knowledgeable in covid-19 tests, including the different uses of different tests and the sample types the tests apply, is critical when deciding your needs.

Types of Tests

Covid-19 tests are of various types, including antibody and diagnostic tests.

Diagnostic tests are utilized to determine whether you have contracted the virus that causes covid-19 known as SARS-CoV-2. The various types of diagnostic tests for covid-19 include:

• Tests for antigens, commonly known as rapid tests
• Molecular tests like the polymerase chain reaction

Nasal swabs are done to collect samples for covid-19 diagnostic tests. Some tests use nasopharyngeal, mid-turbinate, saliva, or oropharyngeal samples. These tests can be done at a standalone testing site, laboratory, home, health clinic, or doctor’s office.

Some covid-19 diagnostic tests involve collecting your sample at home using a standard home collection kit and mailing it to the lab or visiting a testing site for sample collection. Other tests may be done entirely at home as results are within minutes without the need for sending a sample to the lab.

Any community testing site in your state may have covid-19 diagnostic tests. Self-testing kits are authorized for specified uses and require caution when used as some tests can only be applied to people with symptoms while others for both people with and without symptoms.

Lab-based tests like PCR tests offer higher accuracy than at-home tests.

Antibody tests search for antibodies in your blood that the immune system produces as a reaction to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These tests cannot be used definitively to diagnose covid-19 or SARS-CoV-2 infection. They should not also determine immunity as research on them is limited on how much they can say about one’s immunity.

A physician or medical professional collects antibody test samples by taking blood from a vein on your finger.

There are different sample types with various authorized tests. The most typical tests include:

• For swab samples, use a long Q-Tip to collect a sample from the throat or nose. The types of samples include mid-turbinate, nasal, oropharyngeal, and nasopharyngeal
• Blood samples that test for antibodies without diagnosing covid-19. The blood samples from the vein are taken at a doctor’s office.
• Saliva samples were taken by spitting into a tube rather than using a swab

The covid-19 pandemic has proven to be scary at times due to the sudden influx of new cases. Regular testing is hence needed to keep up with the virus. For any covid-19 questions, check us out online, or call our offices in Sugar Land, TX.