What Is A COVID-19 Antigen Test?
A COVID-19 antigen test is a nasal swab or throat swab that aims to detect active cases of COVID-19.
What’s the difference between an antigen test and a PCR test?
The antigen test is designed to look for certain proteins collected from the surface of the virus. Although this test is typically administered as a nasal swab, it not the same as the RT-PCR (polymerase chain reaction) nasal swab test, which instead detects the virus’s genetic material.
How quickly can you expect results?
Since antigen tests do not need to be sent to a lab for processing, your results are generally available within 15 minutes of your test.
How An In-Home Antigen Test Is Done
The in-home COVID-19 antigen test procedure with Drip Hydration is simple. For your appointment, a registered nurse comes to your home with all the equipment and protective gear needed to administer the test. The nurse will take a nasal swab sample from you and process it on site. The nurse will then discuss what the results of your test mean and recommend next steps as needed.
Is the COVID-19 antigen test accurate?
According to the Mayo Clinic, an antigen test that returns a positive result is considered very accurate. However, antigen tests have higher rates than PCR tests of returning false negatives. This means that the test doesn’t always catch an active infection.
What Are Antigen Test False Positives And False Negatives?
In short, false positives and false negatives are test results where the opposite outcome is actually true.
- False positive: The antigen test returns a positive result even though the patient is not actually infected.
- False negative: Although the individual is infected, the antigen test comes back negative.
Since you may continue life as normal if you do not think you are sick, a false negative can potentially spread COVID-19 or lead to worsening symptoms. False positives, on the other hand, can lead to additional costs, treatments, and concerns. Depending on your circumstances, your nurse will recommend whether you should get a PCR test to verify the results of your antigen test.
Safe In-Home Antigen and PCR Tests With Drip Hydration
Whether you want an at-home Antigen or PCR test, Drip Hydration has you covered. We bring safe and convenient COVID-19 tests directly to you. For your safety, our nurses wear medical-grade masks and gloves and practice social distancing as much as possible.
Learn more and make an appointment for our COVID-19 antigen or PCR tests here.
