COVID-19 test: what's the difference?

You may have heard a lot about COVID-19 testing. With a variety of tests available on the market today, which one is best for you, your family, or your business? Here we differentiate the three types of COVID-19 tests.

Rapid Antibody Test

The rapid test measures the presence of antibodies in your blood against SARS-Cov-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The test detects possible exposure to the coronavirus, a possible recovery from the disease, or if you can potentially infect other people.

The rapid test is also considered an antibody test because it looks for antibodies produced by the immune system in response to a threat. Antibodies can take weeks or months to develop after infection and can remain in the blood for several weeks. Therefore, these types of tests should not be used to diagnose the presence of COVID-19 in your system.

Antigen Test

Antigen tests detect certain proteins utilizing nasal or throat swabs. It is able to diagnose an active COVID infection. Positive results from an antigen test are considered very accurate, but the test does not completely rule out a coronavirus infection. To get the most accurate readings, you should purchase a swab test or an RT-PCR test.

RT-PCR Test*

The RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction)* test, which uses swabs from the nose or throat, detects whether a person actually carries the virus. This test will be recommended based on the result of the individual's antibody or antigen test. RT-PCR tests are the most accurate of the three and generally do not need to be repeated.

Get tested at TIB Diagnostics

At TIB Diagnostics, we understand the importance of staying safe and having peace of mind. We offer all three types of COVID-19 testing to better serve you, your family and your organization. Visit https://www.tibdiagnostics.com/covid/ to learn more about our tests.