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PCR vs. Rapid Antigen COVID Tests: What Are the Key Differences?
When you’re feeling under the weather today, your first thought may be to wonder if it’s COVID. Since the pandemic, the worry of COVID is in everyone’s minds.
For most of us, staying home until we feel better is the answer to every possibly contagious illness, and an affordable at-home COVID test can let you know how careful you need to be with your precautions.
If you know you were exposed to the virus or your symptoms are severe, and you need to know how to treat them, you need proof that you have COVID or not. So, do you need a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or a rapid antigen test? Here, we’ll explain the key differences between these two testing options.
The PCR Test
The PCR and rapid antigen tests require the patient to provide a mucous sample, most frequently using a nasal swab. From there, the rest of the testing and results differ.
PCR testing using the nasal swab collected to test the patient’s ribonucleic acid (RNA). Through innovative technology, the microscopic RNA is boosted to reveal any evidence of the virus’s genes within its location. This method exposes even the tiniest of traces of COVID.
Because the test focuses on pinpointing the virus by its genetic code, there’s no way to mistake another for the coronavirus. However, the results can take a few days before they’re complete; during that time, the infected person may expose others. Another disadvantage is that the PCR test’s enhanced sensitivity can detect dead viruses and mark the test positive.
The Antigen Test
When time is of the essence, the rapid antigen test is a solution. Unlike the PCR test, the antigen test looks for proteins located on the virus’s exterior by mimicking the actions of an antibody.
In the human body’s immune system, antibodies attach to the proteins of unwanted germs and attempt to fight them. Once the immune system recognizes the “right” type of antibody to get rid of a particular germ or virus, it knows how to fight it in the future.
Antigen test evaluators take the swab provided, place it in liquid, and put it on a test strip that does the same job as an antibody. The antigens will attract any COVID molecules present and a line shows up on the strip. This happens within 15 minutes and is a quick way to determine the presence or absence of the virus.
The antigen test only recognizes active viruses, which means if you’re in the early stages and asymptomatic, you can receive a false negative. It’s easy enough to use that it can be done at home, making it the preferred method of obtaining evidence of COVID in the system.
When deciding between the PCR or antigen test, the key determination lies in the speed of response necessary and the requirements of the agency you’re providing the results to. For instance, your employer may require that you go to a healthcare provider to ensure your test is supervised.
However, once at the provider’s office, the test used is whichever type they have on hand or determine is right for the probability of your virus. If the doctor assumes you likely don’t have COVID but need it ruled out, they’d choose the PCR. But if they think you do have COVID, they’d want the antigen test to get quick results.
If You Think You Have COVID, Get Tested
Since the pandemic showed us the seriousness of this virus, no one wants to be exposed to it. If you think you may have COVID, limit your exposure to others and get tested. If the test is positive, tell anyone you’ve been in physical contact with recently that they have been exposed, and contact your doctor to find out what treatment is right for you.
