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What’s the Difference Between Rapid & PCR COVID-19 Tests?

If you've been feeling under the weather or have recently been in contact with someone with COVID-19, you're probably looking for COVID-19 testing options. And if so, you've probably also been confused by all the different types of tests available. Terms like PCR, rapid test, and antibody test appear on every website that discusses COVID-19, and it can be difficult to understand what they mean and which one is right for you. In this article, our goal is to explain the differences between the two most common tests for diagnosing COVID-19: rapid antigen tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.

Rapid antigen tests A rapid antigen test can be administered to individuals with or without symptoms of COVID-19.

This test involves the collection of secretions from the nose and throat using a nasopharyngeal swab and subsequent examination for COVID-19 virus-specific protein fragments. Although these tests provide rapid results - in less than 15 minutes - they are generally considered less accurate than the Urgent PCR Test. It is common to get a false negative (a result that indicates the person does not have coronavirus when he or she does) or a false positive (a result that indicates the person has coronavirus when he or she does not). If the person feels unwell and has received a negative rapid test result, he or she may wish to undergo PCR testing for further confirmation. However, when administered while someone is at the peak of their infection, rapid antigen tests usually provide accurate results, as this is when virus levels in the body are highest.

Another is that serial testing-two tests taken 24 to 36 hours apart-is critical with rapid tests. This is because we observed that if a person had an infection detected by a PCR test for at least two days in a row, one or two of the rapid tests taken during the same time also detected the infection more than 80% of the time. In comparison, a single rapid test detected far fewer infections.

Previous research by our study team and others suggests that over-the-counter tests are more likely to detect infection among people who are actively contagious.

PCR Test vs. Rapid COVID-19 Test— What’s the Difference?

Medical researchers have done a fantastic job in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by a new strain of coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2. Although little was known about this virus in the early 2020s, testing was considered key to slowing the spread of the disease.

Therefore, researchers developed a number of coronavirus testing methods in a relatively short time frame. Two of the most commonly recommended tests for people experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or who believe they have been exposed to the virus are the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and the rapid antigen test for COVID-19. Both tests are available at the Ouch Urgent Care clinic in St. Johns, Michigan. Ouch, Urgent Care also offers the COVID-19 rapid test at its Carson City clinic and at a temporary testing site in Lansing.

Which type of COVID-19 test is right for you?

Both the rapid antigen test and PCR test are appropriate for people who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been in close contact with someone who has been infected. Symptoms of coronavirus can vary, and some people who have contracted the virus experience no symptoms at all. For those who do have noticeable symptoms, they may include Fever Cough Body aches Loss of smell and/or taste Difficulty breathing

It is important to note that both the rapid and PCR tests are designed to detect active COVID-19 infections, and it is best to undergo testing a few days after you think you have been exposed to the coronavirus or symptoms develop. Both tests also usually involve nasopharyngeal sampling, which means a trained medical professional will insert a long swab into one or both nostrils to collect a sample for testing.

Now the differences: Although both tests are designed to reveal active COVID-19 infections, they do not do so in the same way. The rapid antigen test identifies the presence of SARS-CoV2 by detecting protein fragments that accompany the coronavirus and does not require laboratory analysis. The PCR test, on the other hand, detects SARS-CoV-2 specific genetic material, and the sample must be processed in a medical laboratory properly equipped to analyze it.

And therein lies the major difference between the COVID-19 rapid test and the PCR test. The rapid test offers a faster turnaround time, often providing results within 15 minutes. Patients receiving the PCR test will likely wait at least two days for results, and during periods of high demand, results may not be available for up to a week.