Three COVID-19 tests | Around the city

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is sometimes confusing due to the ever-changing data reported daily. In addition to the confusion, there are three types of tests that can be managed, but according to the Memorial Medical Center (MMC), people are confused about which test to do.

On Friday, July 3, MMC posted on Facebook and used three tests, but only two of them can determine a positive or negative result for an active infection.

Two tests that can determine a positive or negative result of an active infection are PCR tests or antigen tests, more commonly known as nasal or throat swab tests.

According to the Texas Department of Health (DSHS), a PCR test detected SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the nose, throat, or other areas of the respiratory tract, and the person had an active infection. However, antigen tests look for the proteins that make up the SARS-CoV-2 virus to determine if a person has an active infection.

In most cases, nose or throat swabs will be taken and tested by your health care provider for both PCR and antigen testing.

“Sometimes I can run tests while I’m waiting, and sometimes I need to send the swabs to the lab for testing,” said the DSHS website.

A positive PCR or antigen test indicates that the person is infected with active COVID-19. If the PCR test is negative, the person is probably not infected at the time the sample was taken

If the PCR test is positive, the Health Department will conduct a case study. According to the website, contact tracking will be used to identify individuals who may have been in contact with PCR positives if it could spread COVID-19.

If the antigen test is positive, the Health Department will interview a person who is positive for the condition to see if they were around a person with COVID-19. Contact tracing is performed.

An antigen test with a negative result means no SARS-CoV-2 viral protein was detected.

“But negative tests don’t exclude COVID-19. If you’re concerned that you’ll still have COVID-19 after your antigen test is negative, you’ll have to test again with PCR.” The site explains.

If either the PCR or the antigen test is negative, no public health activity is performed.

The third test being performed is the antibody (serology) test. It uses a blood sample sent to the lab for testing. The antibody test looks for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in the blood to determine if there was a previous infection.

According to the state website, a positive antibody test means that the person being tested has been infected with COVID-19 in the past and the immune system has developed antibodies that try to stop it. On the other hand, if negative, the person may not have COVID-19 in the past. However, he may still be infected and antibody tests were collected too early to give a positive result.

In addition, according to the state website, whether antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 can prevent someone from getting infected again, and if so, how long this protection lasts. I don’t know.

“Including everyone at least 6 feet away from others outside their home (social distance) until scientists have more information about whether the antibody protects against reinfection with this virus , I have to continue to take steps to protect myself and others, and the antibody test turned positive,” he said.

Before a person is tested, they need to be aware of the tests they need and perform the correct tests.

“Several laboratories in the region offer a “quick COVID-19 blood test”. Please note that blood tests are not used to diagnose COVID-19 infections, and advertising this type of test is misleading, according to MMC’s Facebook. “