COVID-19 TESTING
Covid Antigen test– Antigen tests are immunoassays that detect the presence of a specific viral antigen, which indicates current viral infection. Antigen tests are currently authorized to be performed on nasopharyngeal, nasal swab, or saliva specimens placed directly into the assay’s extraction buffer or reagent.
Covid19 PCR test– Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a laboratory technique that uses selective primers to “copy” specific segments of a DNA sequence. COVID-19 PCR tests use primers that match a segment of the virus’s genetic material. This allows many copies of that material to be made, which can be used to detect whether or not the virus is present. A positive COVID-19 PCR test means that SARS-CoV-2 is present. A negative result could either mean that the sample did not contain any virus or that there is too little viral genetic material in the sample to be detected.
