Not All Tests Are Equal
When it comes to testing, there are several types and purposes. There are a couple of factors to consider when choosing which type of test to use. More information will be added as it becomes available.
A diagnostic test will indicate whether or not you have an active coronavirus infection. Then you can decide if you need to take steps: quarantine or isolate yourself. Currently there are two types of diagnostic tests– molecular tests, such as RT-PCR tests, that identify the virus’s actual genetic material, and antigen tests that can isolate specific proteins from C-19.
An antibody test looks for antibodies that are made by your immune system in response to a threat, such as a specific virus. Those antibodies are the cells that help fight infections. The amount of antibodies may need days or even weeks to develop after an infection in order to be significant enough to be counted. They may stay in your system for several weeks or longer after you recover from the illness. Antibody tests are not very useful when diagnosing COVID-19. Researchers are still learning how to interpret the data received from this sort of test. They also do not know if you will be immune to Covid-19 in the future even though you may have antibodies present.
