Is covid 19 confirmed through PCR testing?

The rising case of covid 19 worldwide recently has urged researchers to invent new screening and diagnosis methods for the deadly infectious disease in line with the corona virus vaccine. Currently, there are several tests commonly conducted in clinical practice for the screening of covid 19 disease. Some examples of it include the ultimate gold standard diagnosis test, RT-PCR test which is a molecular test as well as the antigen test (RTK-Ag). Apart from this, there are other various tests done to screen covid test which will be discussed in this article.

Continue reading the article to know more about confirmatory and diagnosing tests of covid 19.

1. The RT-PCR test is a molecular test which is indicated for the diagnosing covid 19. You need to first have a clear indication on why you need to get the PCR test. Some common indications will include when you are currently having flu-like symptoms which can mimic covid 19 infection. You might also be having close contact with covid 19 patients.

The RT-PCR test involves your doctor or nurse taking a nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swab from your nose and back of your throat. This is done by inserting a 6 inch cotton ended stick to get the adequate sample. Is it painful? It is not as painful as you imagine, you might feel slightly uncomfortable and your eyes can be teary. This is completely normal for everyone. The sample is then sent to the laboratory for evaluation and assessment. The PCR test generally looks for the virus’s genetic material which is why it is labelled as the gold standard test for covid 19 infection.

The test results take about 1 to 2 days to be revealed. Meanwhile you will need to practice strict quarantine to prevent further transmission of virus in case of positive results. However, there are some covid 19 variations spreading recently worldwide which cannot be detected by the usual RT-PCR. Further studies and research are being conducted to invent a better test in the near future.

1. On the other hand, the RTK-Ag test is equally effective in diagnosing covid 19 infectious disease. This test alternatively tests the protein attached to the virus called the antigen. It is fairly cheaper than the PCR test and takes a shorter duration of time in detecting the antigen. However, one main drawback of the test will be the false negative cases reported worldwide, which simply means many active cases of covid 19 are missed.

Just like PCR, the rapid test kit also involves nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal  swabs and is sent to the laboratory for assessment.

1. Another test commonly used in clinical practice is the antibody test. This test looks for the antibody produced by our body immune cells in response to the virus attack. These antibodies can only be detected after several weeks to months of active infection. Thus, it is not recommended to have an antibody test to diagnose current active covid 19 infection. A positive antibody test simply means you had a past infection of covid 19.

So, which test do you need to get?

In summary, the RT-PCR test remains the gold standard test for detecting covid 19 virus. If you are indicated to get a test done, you should first opt for RT-PCR test in any nearest covid  19 screening centre. You might need to first book an appointment as many clinics and hospitals are not accepting walk-in patients due to the rapid spread of the disease. Next, make sure to follow all the strict standard operating procedures such as wearing an appropriate face mask, maintaining 1 metre social distance and so forth.