The problem with COVID-19 is the only way to know if the person is actually infected with the new coronavirus, as the symptoms could be very similar to those of the common flu, making it difficult to diagnose.
Aside from this problem, diagnosing COVID-19 may include more tests, mainly hematology and chest tomography, to assess the degree of infection and identify if there is any type of complication that requires more specific unit treatment.
As this is a problem for a new type of virus, here are some of the most common problems:
The COVID-19 problem is not indicated in all cases, as it should only be performed in people who have symptoms of infection, such as severe, severe symptoms and shortness of air, and who belong to one of the following groups:
Similarly, your doctor may ask the COVID-19 question whenever a person develops symptoms of infection after being in a place with a high number of cases or having been in direct contact with confirmed or suspected cases.
Make our next line of symptoms to find out what the risk of having COVID-19 is.
To solve the COVID-19 problem, a sample of respiratory secretions in the throat and nose area is usually taken, using a swab, which is a kind of large swab, this sample is then backed up and sent to the lab, where it will be analyzed to identify if the new coronavirus is present.
In addition to respiratory secretions, in some cases a blood sample or mucus may be taken, depending on the lab that will perform the procedure.
Diagnosis of COVID-19 could also be done by measuring rapid probes, as any results in minutes, however, this result should always be confirmed by a lab test.
However, these problems could be used in the first stage of diagnosis, so that the person can be isolated until the lab test result is received, reducing the risk of transmitting the virus to others in case of infection.
The time it takes to appear in bold depends on the type of problem that has been performed and can range from 15 minutes to 7 days.
Faster tests show results between 15 and 30 minutes, but this should also be confirmed by a lab test. For the most part, the lab test result takes 12 hours to 7 days.
Most of the problems developed by COVID-19 are quite sensitive and specific, so there is a low probability of misdiagnosis; However, the risk of getting a false result is higher when changes are made in the early stages of infection, but it is more likely that the virus at this stage has not yet replicated enough to stimulate the immune system’s response so that it can be detected.
Also, when the sample is not taken, transported or stored properly, it is possible to obtain a “false negative” result. In these cases, the test needs to be repeated, especially if the person has signs and symptoms of infection. if you have had contact with confirmed or suspected cases of the disease, if you belong to a COVID-19 risk group.
Laboratory work for COVID-19 is carried out through a process known as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), which is a technique that aims to increase the number of fragments of genetic material from small microorganisms, such as viruses, which are easier to identify if the virus, in this case the new coronavirus, is present in the evaluated sample.
In addition, this review is performed in real time, if you choose, in addition to identifying the presence of the absence of the virus, it is able to give information on how the virus multiplies, providing important data on the severity of the infection.
The pcr test result takes longer to determine compared to other types of problems; however, it is considered the baseline test for the diagnosis of COVID-19, as it is a very sensitive and specific technique, which offers important results for the monitoring of the disease.
Learn more about coronavirus in the video below: