How reliable are at-home COVID-19 tests?

As two years passed since the pandemic was declared, many have seen the role of COVID-19 testing. It has been an indispensable tool that helps prevent the spread of the virus. At-home COVID-19 tests have also become a requirement to travel to other places and helped contain and reduce the negative impact of the pandemic.

 

More people are seeking more convenient and faster ways to determine if they have contracted the virus. Purchasing COVID-19 home tests seems to be the most apparent answer considering that it can provide immediate results without the need to visit a testing centre. 

 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the use of COVID home test kits for self-testing at home or any other location, which can be ordered online or bought at nearby retailers. People can choose from either at-home rapid or home PCR tests. Both COVID-19 tests could tell if a person has an active COVID-19 infection, but they differ in accuracy rate and turnaround time. 

 

Home rapid tests are typically less accurate than PCR tests, but they can provide immediate results that can aid in deciding whether an individual should get additional treatment. Meanwhile, PCR tests can deliver highly accurate results, but it can take a day or more to get results requiring specialised laboratory equipment. 

 

With the current pandemic, people can take COVID-19 tests to help ensure that they do not have the virus and transmit it to other people. It is especially vital when attending gatherings or hosting one. 

 

However, there are also instances that these tests produce false-negative results and miss asymptomatic infection of COVID-19. They can be unreliable during gatherings as they might provide a false sense of security. A negative result from a COVID-19 test does not automatically grant individuals the freedom to do anything they want. After having a negative antigen test, it can also be helpful to take a confirmatory PCR test to ensure safety.

 

If you want to learn more about at-home COVID-19 tests, here is an infographic from Harley Medic International.

 

Furthermore, for an affordable COVID-19 testing kit, contact the trusted and reliable “Official Rapid Tests” by “Harley Medic International” and get in touch through their website.

 

How-reliable-are-at-home-COVID-19-tests-rapid-antigen-test-infographic