Did you know that there have been almost 1.7 million coronavirus deaths worldwide so far?
While the pandemic isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, you can do your part by getting tested. That way, if you have COVID, you won’t spread it to your loved ones, coworkers, and others.
Are you wondering what type of COVID test you should take and when? Keep reading to learn all about it.
The Best Time to Get a COVID Test
If you’re exhibiting symptoms that are similar to a COVID-19 infection, then it’s always better to be safe and get a test done. Out of respect for the safety of your loved ones and coworkers, it’s also a good idea to stay in self-quarantine until you get your results back.
Symptoms of COVID include headaches, fever, loss of smell or taste, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and more.
However, there are many asymptomatic spreaders of COVID. This is why you should get tested if you find out that you’ve been in close contact with someone who was tested positive for coronavirus.
It could also be a good idea to get tested if you’ve been in contact with someone who might have COVID, even if they haven’t gotten tested yet. Additionally, if you’ve attended a gathering of 10 or more people within an area that has a high rate of COVID infections, you should get tested.
The Antigen Test
Antigen tests are ideal if you need to get results quickly. In fact, you could know within 30 minutes or less. The downside is that this type of coronavirus testing is not the most accurate and can give you a false negative.
The At-Home Test
At-home COVID-19 tests allow you to perform the test yourself and then send it in for the results to be processed by professionals. If you are in a high-risk category, then this option is the safest way to determine if you’ve been infected.
The Molecular Test
The great thing about this coronavirus test is that the results are nearly 100% reliable. While they are highly accurate, it does take at least a day to get your results. Depending on other factors, it could take longer too.
It is worth the wait, though, because molecular tests can detect coronavirus about a day or two before symptoms even appear. Even if you’ve had the virus for several weeks, the test’s sensitivity still has a chance of picking up on the virus’s presence.
Ready to Get a COVID Test?
Now that you know what type of COVID test you should take, you can make sure that you and your loved ones are kept safe from infection. It’s always better to be safe rather than risk the health of yourself and others.
The Center For Health & Wellbeing is here to provide you with all the expert care you could need, from family medicine to weight management and everything in between. We strive to create a welcoming and healing environment so that all our patients can thrive.