What you need to know about COVID-19 Testing!

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is no longer considered a global health emergency, people are still getting the disease. For some people, it can be a little more severe and difficult to get sick. So, today we will talk in more detail about the COVID-19 situation, especially the tests that are used to diagnose the disease. Because being well-informed about this can be very important for you and your family.

Is it still important for us to get tested for COVID-19?

Yes, this is actually a question that many people have. Simply put, yes, it's still important to get tested. Do you know why?

Imagine you have a cold, a fever, and a headache. The only way to know for sure whether it's just a common cold or COVID-19 is to get tested. There are several benefits to knowing this:

• You can prevent the virus from spreading to others: If you find out you have COVID-19, you can help protect yourself by staying away from other people, especially older people in your home or those with underlying health conditions (such as diabetes or heart disease). You can also wear a mask, which will greatly reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others.
• Especially for those at higher risk: As mentioned earlier, there are some people who are more likely to have a serious illness if they get COVID-19. If someone like this tests positive, meaning they have the virus, they can see a doctor right away and start taking antiviral medications. Doing so can help prevent the disease from getting worse and requiring hospitalization.
• Peace of mind: If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and then test negative, meaning you don't have the virus, it can be a great relief for you and your family. Also, if you test negative after you recover, it can provide reassurance that you are no longer contagious to others.

So you see? Getting tested for COVID-19 is still not just a matter of chance, it helps us act responsibly and protect our loved ones.

What types of COVID-19 tests are there?

There are two main types of tests to check for a COVID-19 infection. One is a test that checks whether you currently have the virus in your body (current infection). The other is a test that checks whether you have had COVID-19 before (past infection). Let's look at these two separately.

Viral Testing to Detect a Current Infection

These viral tests, or ``viral tests,'' are used to find out for sure whether you are currently infected with COVID-19. These tests look for parts of the virus in a sample of your mucus or saliva. They can tell you whether you are infected on the day of the test. That's why they are sometimes called ``diagnostic tests.''

There are two main types of ``Viral tests'':

1. Molecular tests - for example, PCR tests

These types of tests look for the genetic material inside the virus, called RNA. Think of this RNA as a fingerprint that identifies the virus. These tests are usually done in doctors' offices, urgent care centers, pharmacies, or laboratories. The PCR test is a very popular test of this type. These are usually very accurate, but they take a while to get results, sometimes a few hours or a day.

2. Antigen tests

These ``Antigen tests`` look for proteins on the surface of the virus. These are often rapid tests that can be done at home . These can give results in as little as 15-30 minutes. However, these ``Antigen tests`` do not detect the virus as accurately as ``Molecular tests.`` This means that when the virus is present in small amounts in the body, it is possible for this test to be ``negative``, even if the virus is actually present.

How to take samples?

For these `(Viral tests)`, the sample is most often taken from inside the nose. It is usually taken from inside the nostrils with a small cotton swab. Sometimes it is taken a little deeper into the nose. Apart from that, samples can be taken from the throat, inside the cheeks, gums or tongue. Very rarely, a saliva sample may be asked to be collected in a small container.

How to understand test results?

• A 'positive' result means you have been infected with the COVID-19 virus.
• A 'negative' result means you are not infected with the virus.

But there's a catch: sometimes test results aren't 100% accurate.

• False Negative: Sometimes a test can be negative even though a person actually has the virus. This is called a false negative. This can happen, especially in the early days of illness, when the amount of virus in the body is low. This is more likely to happen with antigen tests.
• False Positive or Long-lasting Positive: Rarely, the virus can be 'positive' when it is not actually present. Also, some people can still have a 'positive' PCR test for weeks after they have been sick, recovered, and are no longer infectious to others. This is because it can detect dead parts of the virus.

That's why it's always important to talk to a doctor about a test result. That way, you can know exactly what the result means and what to do next.

Antibody Testing to Detect Past Infection

Now let's talk about the test that is done to find out if you have previously had COVID-19 . This is called ``Antibody testing''.

This test looks for antibodies in your body that have been produced against the COVID-19 virus. Our body's immune system produces these antibodies to fight off an infection. If you have COVID-19, it usually takes 2-3 weeks for these antibodies to start forming in your body. So, this test can tell if you have had COVID-19 at least two to three weeks ago .

The most important thing is that this ``Antibody test`` cannot tell if you currently have the disease. Therefore, this test is not used to see if someone has symptoms of COVID-19 or not.

This is a blood test. It is done by taking a small amount of blood from a vein or a small amount of blood from a fingertip (a `fingerstick`). The results may come back the same day, or it may take up to a week. There are no home kits for this `(Antibody testing)`.

Another thing, if you have received the COVID-19 vaccine, it will also cause your body to produce antibodies. Some antibody tests can only detect antibodies produced by infection. Others can detect antibodies produced by the vaccine. Some tests detect both.

Currently, health experts are not recommending using ``antibody testing'' to see how protected someone is from COVID-19 or how well a vaccine is working. That is still in the research stage.

What else do we need to know about this?

Okay, now you have a rough idea about COVID-19 testing. There are a few more things you need to keep in mind:

• Medical advice: If you or your children have a test, be sure to discuss the results with your doctor so you can understand exactly how the results will affect you and your family.
• If 'positive': If the test is 'positive', it is most likely that you are infected and can spread the disease to others. Therefore, you should be careful.
• Be careful with antigen tests: There are those quick at-home ``antigen tests'' that can sometimes give a 'negative' result even though a person is infected. This is especially likely to happen in the early days of the illness.
• Repeating a test: If you have symptoms but the `(Antigen test)` is negative, it is important to confirm whether those symptoms are really due to COVID-19, so it is a good idea to do another `(Antigen test)` after about two days. It may then be `(positive)`.
• Test after recovery: If you tested positive at the beginning of your illness, and then tested negative after you recover, it most likely means that you are no longer contagious to others.

So, what are the things we need to remember from all of this? (Take-Home Message)

Okay, so let's summarize the things we need to keep in mind from what we've talked about:

1. COVID-19 is not over yet: so don't take it lightly if you develop symptoms.

2. Getting tested is important: Getting tested helps you know if you have the disease, protect others, and get treatment quickly if needed.

3. There are two types of tests: `(Viral tests)` (PCR, Antigen) to check for a current infection and `(Antibody tests)` to check for a previous infection.

4. Antigen tests are quick, but: can be false negative in the early days. If in doubt, repeat in two days.

5. `PCR tests` are accurate, but: results take time to come in, and it is possible to be `positive' even after recovery.

6. Antibody tests only tell if you have had the disease in the past: they cannot tell if you currently have the disease.

7. Talk to your doctor: No matter what the test result is, it's best to talk to a doctor about it and get advice.

Remember, awareness is the best defense. I hope you now have a better understanding of COVID-19 and how to get tested. Stay healthy!

` COVID-19, Covid tests, PCR test, Antigen test, Antibodies, Virus tests, Sri Lanka Health