Covid rapid antigen tests are an easy and quick way to diagnose the disease. You just have to follow a few short steps and in a matter of minutes you will be able to see the results.
Many doubts arise regarding Covid tests in general, since cases of false negatives are present and everyone wants to be completely sure that the results that were obtained are correct.
Why a rapid antigen test cannot be performed at any time
Rapid antigen tests cannot be performed at any time since it has been proven that these give safe and accurate results only if the presence of SARS-CoV-2 is 100% in the body.
If you perform the test on days when there is still not enough viral load, you will give rise to false negatives, which applies equally to nasal tests and Covid-19 saliva tests . This will make you overconfident and careless since you actually have the virus, which could cause serious symptoms later on.
What is the best time to do antigen testing?
When doing a SARS-CoV2 rapid antigen test, it is good that you take into account some factors that make the moment the most appropriate for diagnosis and free you from inconsistent results.
There are some key periods after the spread of the disease, and it is in these periods that detecting the virus is easier. The AEMPS (Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products) has recommended that you do:
- In the first 5 days from the onset of symptoms. With the large increases in Covid infections, it goes without saying that you can never ignore the presence of symptoms related to Covid (cough, fever, fatigue, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, etc). The chances that you have been infected are many.
- After 5 or 7 days of symptoms is a good time to test, as the viral load is at its highest.
- If you have no symptoms but had contact with someone who tested positive. This is also a good time, since it is very possible that the person you interacted with has infected you and these chances increase if you did not take the proper biosecurity measures.
You can take the test about five or seven days after this contact.
If you get a positive result, you are automatically considered a suspected case of Covid, so you must isolate yourself and go to the nearest health center to confirm your status.
In the event that the test gives you negative, it is recommended that you repeat it to rule out, and more so if you present symptoms.
It is important that you perform the test properly, on this the Aemps was able to express “A poor quality sample can lead to an erroneous result, so, to prevent them from degrading, do the test immediately after taking them”.
All rapid Covid tests offered in pharmacies ( Covid-19 BOSON, Covid-19 NEWGENE, Covid-19 WESAIL, Covid-19 GOLDSIDE, Covid-19 FLOW FLEX) are of great help for the prompt diagnosis of the disease. Medical centers are crowded with many people looking for a PCR test, so these tests can make it easier for you to diagnose the disease.
