Unfortunately, at-home tests have also become difficult-if not impossible-to find. Often called rapid tests, such kits are sold in drugstores and online, allowing people to test themselves-and get results-in their own home in a matter of minutes. So, many turned to at-home COVID-19 tests. As Omicron surged, appointments at sites where results are processed by a laboratory became difficult to find in a timely manner. Because information about COVID-19 changes rapidly, we encourage you to visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and your state and local government for the latest information.Īs the highly contagious Omicron variant continues to sweep across the country, people-even those who are fully vaccinated-are wondering if the onset of cold and flu symptoms is really a sign of COVID-19 infection.īut COVID testing has become a complicated issue. Learn more about tracking COVID-19 and COVID-19 trends.Note: Information in this article was accurate at the time of original publication. Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.įor more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and. If an at-home test is positive, you should have a lab-based PCR test performed that day or the following day to ensure the case is tracked by public health officials and to connect you with a health care provider who will determine if treatment is necessary. If an at-home antigen test is negative, continue to wear a mask in public settings, around those who are unvaccinated and/or high-risk. These tests are faster and less expensive than PCR tests, but there is an increased chance of false-negative results. These tests are available for purchase where at-home tests are sold. Using a nasal swab, antigen tests can produce results in 15 minutes. Timing is key with this test, so try to take it on the day of the event because that's going to give you the best information of whether you have high amounts of the virus in your system at that time. What is it? The rapid at-home antigen tests detect certain viral proteins in the nasal sample. Since these tests are PCR tests performed in a laboratory, these results have a higher accuracy than at-home antigen tests. When can you expect results and how accurate will they be? At-home mail away tests can typically take anywhere between two to four days for results. When should you use this test? Use this test after an exposure or when you begin experiencing symptoms. Saliva is typically easier ― and more comfortable ― to collect from a patient, compared to a nasopharyngeal swab. Similar to swab tests, saliva is a specimen that can be collected for polymerase chain reaction testing. This is a similar type of test used at the health care provider's office, but you collect the saliva sample yourself and mail it off to a laboratory to be analyzed. Since these tests are PCR tests performed in a laboratory, these results have higher accuracy than at-home antigen tests. Use this test after exposure or when you begin experiencing symptoms.Īt-home tests can typically take anywhere between two to four days for results. This is a similar type of test used at the health care provider's office, but you collect the nasal swab yourself and mail it to a laboratory to be analyzed. At-home types of testsĪt-home nasal swab with lab-based PCR test The PCR test is the gold standard when it comes to COVID-19 testing. When can you expect results and how accurate will they be?ĭepending on the lab your provider uses, you can expect to receive your results within 24–72 hours. Make an appointment with your health care provider if you have been exposed or if you are experiencing symptoms. Some lab tests allow for patients to spit into a tube to get a saliva sample. A sample is collected by inserting a nasopharyngeal swab into a person's nostril and taking cells from the back of the nose. This test looks for the virus' RNA in a patient's sample. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test nasal swab Test at the health care provider's office or testing site Matthew Binnicker and the team at Mayo Clinic Laboratories put together a chart to help break down the different types of COVID-19 tests and when to use them. There are various types of COVID-19 tests that people may choose from to find out if they are infected with the virus.
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