What type of COVID-19 test should I get?

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that can cause severe illness, especially in people with preexisting health conditions like diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure.

Types of COVID-19 tests

Two types of tests are commonly used to identify a current infection of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

The first type is molecular test. Molecular tests include nucleic acid amplification tests (ШОВ) such as polymerase chain reaction tests (RT-PCR or PCR tests). They’re usually processed in a laboratory and are generally more accurate than antigen tests, but results can take longer.

The second type is antigen test, which use a different mechanism to detect infection. These tests can be processed in your home using a kit that looks similar to an at-home pregnancy test and gives results within 10-15 минут.

Which test should I get?

It is always best to talk with your health care provider about which test is best for you.

For people with symptoms, the most important thing to do is to get one of the two viral diagnostic tests.

If you have symptoms, get the quick antigen test if it is available. If it is positive, you can start isolating to protect those around you from the spread of the virus.

But if the antigen test is negative, you should get retested using a molecular (aka PCR) test and be sure to isolate yourself until you receive the result.

For most people who do not have symptoms but want to be tested because they may have been exposed, the molecular/PCR test is the better choice. It can find small amounts of the virus that might be seen before symptoms start.

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