#BEST RAPID COVID TEST AT HOME HOW TO#
#BEST RAPID COVID TEST AT HOME SERIAL#

#BEST RAPID COVID TEST AT HOME SERIAL#

Serial testing, meaning taking another test 1-2 days after the initial negative test, can be another strategy to improve accuracy (in case the initial test was done too early int he course of infection). This is why you should test yourself the day of gathering with others, to ensure that you have the most recent, most accurate reflection of infectious status. If you receive a negative result on your COVID-19 rapid test, there is still a possibility that you’ve been infected, but a negative result suggests that your viral load might not be high enough at that specific time for the test to detect the virus and therefore are less likely to transmit to others. The key difference between rapid antigen tests and PCR tests is that rapid tests aren’t always sensitive enough to tell you definitively if you have COVID-19 - what they’re better able to tell you is about your infectiousness and likelihood of transmission to others.įalse positives with rapid tests are very unlikely if you receive a positive result, you very likely have COVID-19. When should I use a rapid test, and when should I seek a lab or health care facility test? You could have a false negative result if, for example, you test yourself too soon after you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or if you test when you have no symptoms. This could lead to false negative test results. However, they can be less accurate when someone has a lower viral load, such as in someone without symptoms or someone very early in the course of their infection.

These tests can be processed in your home using a kit that looks similar to an at-home pregnancy test and gives results within 10-15 minutes.Īntigen tests are still fairly accurate, particularly when someone is experiencing symptoms and their viral load is very high. They’re usually processed in a laboratory and are generally more accurate than antigen tests, but results can take longer.Īt-home rapid tests are antigen tests, which use a different mechanism to detect infection.

Molecular tests include nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) such as polymerase chain reaction tests (RT-PCR or PCR tests). How do rapid tests compare to lab or doctor’s office tests?Īlthough there are many COVID-19 tests available, they can generally be broken into two types: molecular and antigen tests.

#BEST RAPID COVID TEST AT HOME HOW TO#

Here, we answer some common questions about the quality of at-home tests, how to use them and what to do with the results. They offer quick and fairly accurate results - if you use them correctly. At-home COVID-19 rapid test kits are valuable tools to help determine the likelihood of spreading COVID-19 to others.

Best rapid covid test at home