Concerned you might have COVID-19? You may benefit from rapid antigen testing. The team at QuickMed testing offers rapid antigen testing. They provide testing at the office as well as on-site testing, and you can get your results within minutes.
Antigen tests are designed to detect proteins from the virus that causes COVID-19 in respiratory specimens, for example, nasal swabs.
If you have a positive test result, it is very likely that you have COVID-19 because proteins from the virus that causes COVID-19 were found in your sample. Therefore, it is also likely that you may be placed in isolation to avoid spreading the virus to others. There is a very small chance that this test can give a positive result that is wrong (a false-positive result). Your healthcare provider will work with you to determine how best to care for you based on your test result(s), along with your medical history, and your symptoms.
A negative test result means that proteins from the virus that causes COVID-19 were not found in your sample. It is possible for this test to give a negative result that is incorrect (false-negative) in some people with COVID-19. This means that you could possibly still have COVID-19 even though the test is negative. If your test result is negative, your healthcare provider will consider the test result together with all other aspects of your medical history (such as symptoms, possible exposures, and geographical location of places you have recently traveled) in deciding how to care for you.
The amount of antigen in a sample may decrease the longer you have symptoms of infection. Specimens collected after you have had symptoms for more than seven days may be more likely to be negative compared to a molecular assay (PCR).
It is important that you work with your healthcare provider to help you understand the next steps you should take.
There are different kinds of tests to diagnose COVID-10, which include antigen and molecular. Antigen tests detect proteins from the virus. Antigen tests are very specific for the virus but are not as sensitive as molecular tests. Molecular tests (also known as PCR, NAAT, RT-PCR) detect genetic material from the virus.
This means that a positive result is highly accurate, but a negative result does not rule out infection. If your test result is negative, you should discuss it with your healthcare provider to determine whether an additional molecular test would help with your care. Negative results but with persistent symptoms of viral infection may require confirmation testing with the standard PCR test, also available at QuickMed , with results delivered in just 24 to 48 hours.
Schedule your Rapid Antibody Test at QuickMed today by calling or by booking an appointment online. With results in minutes, no delay, know today!