The COVID-19 pandemic has troubled the world for two years now. Due to strict guidelines and restrictions, people were forced to wear masks and stay at home to avoid catching the virus. According to The Commonwealth Fund, the flood of COVID-19 patients in hospitals has resulted in limited healthcare access to individuals needing them, some of which include COVID-19 tests.
COVID-19 Tests
A precaution to prevent the further spread of infection, COVID-19 tests are used to determine whether a particular individual is positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
While the illness can manifest in mild to moderate symptoms – or severe in worse case scenarios – some are asymptomatic. Asymptomatic patients display no visible symptoms, making diagnosis difficult and raising the risk for spread. Incidents like this make COVID-19 tests an indispensable tool for early detection.
Aside from government protocols, several establishments also require people to get tested before entering the premises or being granted use of public facilities.
There are several types of COVID-19 tests that can detect the virus with varying accuracy:
- RT-PCR Tests
- Molecular Tests
- Rapid Antigen Tests
However, the risk is present when going to clinics or hospitals to get tested for the virus. Due to possible inaccuracies in the results of each type, a patient may have to get tested several times as precaution.When the anxiety of catching the virus becomes apparent, opting for COVID home test kits is the most viable choice.
Testing at Home
At-home COVID-19 tests can be used anytime, anywhere despite vaccination status or symptoms exhibition. At-home COVID-19 tests are also called self-test kits or Over-the-Counter (OTC) test kits and takes from a few minutes to hours for them to show results depending on the type used. These are available at local health departments, community testing sites, or at pharmacies.
The continued demand for clinical and laboratory-based COVID-19 tests in 2022 prompted a shortage in supply. Meanwhile, at-home COVID-19 test kits remain greatly available in the market today. Home test kits provide quick results with decent accuracy, allowing people to know their infection status early and reduce the chances of possible viral spread.
However, many still question the accuracy rate of at-home test kits due to their over-the-counter convenience. For those who are wary of its correctness, there are two kinds of home tests with varying accuracy and turnaround time: Home Rapid Antigen tests and home PCR tests. The former can be interpreted by the patient themselves, while the latter will be sent to a laboratory for result confirmation.
For more information on the reliability of At-home COVID-19 test kits, check out this infographic from Harley Medic International.
