The Difference In Covid-19 Antibody, RT-PCR And Antigen Tests
The covid spread is faster than the imagination of medical experts. It passes from person to person that creates a chain of viruses to affect respiratory health. However, in the past six months, almost 20 million people have been affected by this virus. Thankfully, the facility is provided by Arleta urgent care clinic for covid-19 testing. This is a professional healthcare center devoted to providing all sorts of testing for coronavirus. You can visit the center for RT PCR, antigen, and antibody testing for covid. But, before visiting, you must look into these different tests and know how they work. So, read this blog thoroughly, and you will get the proper understanding.
RT PCR covid testing
You can undergo this covid testing when you have the symptoms that are susceptible to coronavirus. Sore throat, breathing difficulty, body ache, fatigue, and fever are some related symptoms. However, these symptoms might not always be due to covid. So, to know the exact cause this testing is done. It is known as the gold standard of covid testing due to providing accurate results. At Los Angeles urgent care clinic, you can walk in to get this test done by experts. This test was performed to detect the genetic material of SARS COV.
How is the PCR test performed?
RT PCR is fully known as the Real-time Polymer Chain Reaction test. It detects the coronavirus by collecting the samples from the respiratory system of the body. The test is performed with the cotton swabs to be used in the throat and nose. The samples will then send to the clinical lab for testing. They will be evaluated by the experts to detect if the viral infection is present in the cells. PCR is the widely used test to detect the covid infection due to rendering accurate results. It uses clinical devices and solutions to make proper testing to confirm positive or negative test reports. However, the RT PCR test report might take 24 to 48 hours.
Antigen or rapid covid testing
As the name suggests, it is the rapid form of covid screening that can tell whether you are suffering from covid or not immediately. This is known as a modern covid testing system that can be performed on the spot. Arleta immediate urgent care provides this test to patients who want to know instantly whether they have coronavirus or not. The method of executing this test is as similar to PCR. The fluid is collected with the cotton swab from the nose or throat. The sample will then is placed on a kit that tells the results within 10-15 minutes.
This test is more inexpensive than the PCR and does not require a longer wait. It would indicate if you are exposed to the virus, but the results might vary due to the several factors. In addition, the final reporting of this test is based on the exposure of a person to the virus. This test works to detect proteins in the virus and detect the active virus contamination. The antigen testing system is suitable in the case of mass testing for covid.
Antibody covid testing
The third important test that you can get at Los Angeles urgent care is the antibody test. Now you will be surprised to know that this test is entirely different from both above-mentioned tests. This actually works to detect the antibodies in the body that fights against the virus. This test is not suitable to detect whether you have coronavirus at the current time. It could only detect whether your body has developed antibodies or proteins to combat the coronavirus. But this is also an important test that can help you know whether your body has a natural resistance to viruses. It is performed by sampling your blood but not the respiratory material. It detects the antibodies formed by your body against the virus contamination and can detect if you have had a virus infection previously.
This test is also called as serology testing and can be done only by experts. The extraction of blood by using the needle and syringe is not a DIY task. So, at Arleta immediate urgent care you can consult a specialist and can give a sample of blood. This test will detect when your body developed antibodies against the virus.
To sum up
Hopefully, you will be able to differentiate among these tests now. These tests are related to covid screening but have distinct features and working. An antibody test at Los Angeles urgent care can tell if you have a past covid infection. This tells if your body has developed antibodies or not. So, you can visit the clinic at any time during working hours and can get tested without any hassle. You can get these tests at affordable prices from the Arleta clinic.
