biocollections worldwide patient testing report

What are the different types of Covid tests?

There are two general categories of Covid tests that have different testing types under each. The two categories of Covid tests are:

What kind of sample is used to test for COVID19?

For the viral tests, the sample used is your mucus or saliva. This is collected from your nose or throat, or some places have you spit into a cup for a saliva sample. For antibody tests that do not give you your current Covid status, typically blood is drawn and used as the sample.

What is the difference between a PCR test and an antigen test for COVID-19?

The main difference between these two tests is the way that they detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

How do saliva tests compare to nasal swab tests for diagnosing COVID-19?

Nasal swabs and saliva collection are simply different ways to get a sample for the Covid test. With the swabbing technique, a long swab (basically a giant q-tip) is inserted into the nose or occasionally throat to collect a sample.

Are there any at-home tests for COVID-19?

There are a few at home tests that have been granted emergency use authorization by the FDA. Essentially these tests include a sampling mechanism where you collect a nasal swab or saliva sample, and then send it for testing.

What is the most common type of Covid test?

The most common type of Covid test is the PCR test, which is generally considered to be the “gold standard” of Covid testing. Because this type of test tends to have higher accuracy rates, PCR tests are relied upon by many medical professionals to determine whether or not their patients have Covid.

How is the COVID-19 nasal swab test performed?

The nasal swab collection is performed by using a long q-tip to gather a sample from your nose. There are different depths and locations that can be swabbed. Those locations are:

Is there a Diagnostic Test for COVID?

Diagnostic testing is done to determine whether a patient is currently infected with COVID, which is different from the commonly-known antibody testing which determines previous virus infection.

What tests are used to diagnose COVID19?

In the early months of the pandemic, understanding testing was difficult because different types of testing were being used and promoted, “false-positive” results were occurring, and some doubts were raised with the efficacy of the results because of different test types.

How can I get an COVID19 antibody test or a diagnostic test?

Antibody tests look for the presence of antibodies in a patient, which are proteins created by the body in response to the virus. These have been helpful to identify if a patient was previously infected with COVID, as antibodies start to form 1-3 weeks after infection. These tests are conducted by collecting a blood sample.

How can I get tested for a current COVID19 infection and what does my test mean?

You’ve likely heard about conflicting COVID testing results: false positives, false negatives, retesting, and other stories that make the process sound inconclusive.

How long after a PCR test can you take a swab?

This is particularly true when swabs are taken more than five days after symptom onset and sensitivity of PCR tests starts to decrease. Antibody tests have many uses for public health decision making, but demand has largely come from individual consumers. We know you might have many questions about the COVID-19 antibody test.

How long does it take for antibodies to show up in blood?

Antibodies may be detected in your blood for several months or more after you recover from COVID-19 .

Can you return to work with an antibody test?

Antibody test results should not be used to determine if someone can return to work. If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19, stay home, take care of yourself, stay in touch with a doctor, and avoid public transportation.