Question

What is a COVID-19 Diagnostic Test and how is it performed?

What is a COVID-19 Antibody Test and how is it performed?

What is the major difference between the two tests?

Answer 1

COVID-19 Diagnostic Test:

A test to diagnose COVID-19 give information that the person is infected currently with the virus or not. The FDA approved some standard tests for diagnosing a COVID-19 infection:

RT-PCR test: This COVID-19 test detects genetic material of the virus using a lab technique called reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A health care worker collects nasal fluid or throat swab or saliva and sent it for RT-PCR. If the test is positive, it indicate the person is infected with the virus of COVID 19.

Antigen test: it detects certain proteins present in the virus. A nasal fluid or throat swab sample is to be taken by a healthcare worker and follow up the procedure for the antigen tests and this gives results within minutes. So this test is rapid, but some time it gives false negative results.

COVID-19 Antibody Test:

A COVID-19 antibody test, also known as a serology test. It is a blood test used to detect whether a person has antibodies to the corona virus. This test help to identify people who may have been infected with the corona virus or already recovered from the COVID-19 infection. It determines whether person was infected with corona virus in the past and now developed antibodies against the corona virus.

A health care worker collects a blood sample generally by a finger prick and the sample is tested to determine whether antibodies are developed against the virus. The immune system produces these antibodies against the virus for fighting removing the virus from the body. If test results positive, it indicates that the person is infected with the COVID 19 in the past.

Difference:

The major difference between COVID 19 diagnostic test and COVID 19 antibodies test is the diagnostic test determines whether the person is currently infected with the corona virus these test detect the presence of virus in the sample either nasal fluid, throat swab or saliva. However, in antibody test, the presence of antibodies is detected in the blood sample and it indicates whether the person have developed immunity to fight against corona virus infection. The presence of antibodies indicate the person had infection in past.