COVID-19 Tests and diagnosis
There are various types of tests available for detection of Covid-19:
- RT-PCR (Reverse Polymerase chain reaction) is the gold standard used for diagnosis of individuals. A nasal or throat swab is taken and put in a machine that amplifies and detects the virus.
- Antigen tests are used for quick diagnosis at home. As per the kit instruction, people can use the swab to first swipe their throat and then the nose. It detects the spike protein on the coronavirus. It may result in false negative results; hence a negative result will need a RT-PCR for confirmation.
- ELISA is an antibody detection test used primarily for serosurveys and research.
- Rapid Antibody looks for antibodies but is a faster and cheaper version than ELISA. However, it is less accurate and can show false positives results. Used mostly for population surveys. Blood sample from finger is used for testing.
- TrueNat is a gene-detection test that is similar to the RT-PCR but is faster and comes in a small portable kit. It is used for screening and confirmation of COVID-19.
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