Why Rapid Tests For COVID-19 So Important

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Introduction Following the fight against the ongoing pandemic, a rapid test manufactured by several companies with emergency use authorization by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As of today, variety of these test kits are being produced and distributed worldwide every month. According to FDA recommendations, it is believed that a timely and accurate COVID-19 antigen and antibody testing is an essential part of the management of COVID-19 for slowing down the pandemic, supporting decisions on infection control strategies and management of patients at healthcare centers, and ultimately in detecting asymptomatic cases that could lead to a spread of the virus if not isolated. Why rapid tests for COVID-19 so important It is evident that the release of COVID-19 vaccines has allowed more schools and businesses to resume operations. In times like this, conducting a rapid test to detect the virus have never been so important. This is because it takes time to get enough people vaccinated. It is no news that even scientists and medical practitioners are working tirelessly to comprehend the span of vaccine resistance and efficiency of the vaccines against variants of the virus spreading around the globe Hence, these tests can help to determine quickly and affordably who is most infectious so they can quarantine and curb the virus from not spreading to others. Another important reason is because the rapid test helps in identification and regulation of the Virus. The rapid antigen test are effective at identifying the virus when one is most likely to transmit it. Which is to say, when one is contagious. These tests help to regulate the activeness of the virus in a person’s body and how contagious the person is. Other key benefit is of the test is access to all. These tests are simple to perform, portable and can be performed in some pretty distinctive healthcare offices. These includes institutions as well as parking lots. The test can be performed at home with a virtually guided service. Beyond availability, the tests are also affordable. What is Antibody Test and Antigen Test? An antibody Covid-19 test is a test that showcases if an individual is/has already been exposed to a contagion/infection, by spotting antibodies in their serum or blood. The process through which this can be done is a laboratory-based test such as an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) or CIA (chemiluminescent immunoassay), or a point-of-care test based on lateral flow technology. Antibody tests are not usually primarily used to diagnose existing infection as the body takes time before it produces antibodies. Prior to the period before the adaptive immune system kicks in, the fast-acting immune response wars with the infection. Antibody tests can as well assist in the tracking of the spread of a disease. However, as with many other test methods, antibody test results are unfortunately not always correct. An antigen Coronavirus test on the other hand reveals if a person is currently infected with a pathogen such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Immediately the infection goes, the antigen vanishes. Antigens usually take longer to mature than antibody and molecular tests, as suitable antibodies for use in the examination must first be recognized and then produced, which can be timeconsuming and of a complex nature. However, they are relatively cheap, they provide test results


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