The COVID-19 test is the only reliable way to find out if a person is actually infected with the new coronavirus, as symptoms can be very similar to those of the common influenza, making diagnosis difficult.
In addition to this test, the diagnosis of COVID-19 may also include additional tests, mainly blood count and chest tomography, to assess the degree of infection and identify if there is any type of complication that requires more specific treatment.
Because this is a test for a new type of virus, here are some of the most common questions:
The COVID-19 test is not indicated in all cases and should only be performed in people who have symptoms suggestive of infection, such as severe coughing, fever and shortness of breath, and who belong to one of the following groups:
In addition, your doctor may also order the COVID-19 test whenever someone develops symptoms of the infection after being in a place with a high number of cases or have been in direct contact with suspicious or confirmed cases.
Take our symptom test online to find out your risk of getting COVID-19.
For the COVID-19 test, a sample of the respiratory secretions of the throat and nose is usually taken with 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 or mucus sample may also be taken, depending on the test lab.
Diagnosis of COVID-19 can also be performed by rapid testing, which provide the result in a few minutes, however, the result of these tests should always be confirmed by a laboratory test.
However, these rapid tests can be used in the first stage of diagnosis, as they allow the person to be placed in isolation until they receive the lab test result, thereby reducing the risk of transmitting the virus to others, if infected.
The time it takes to publish the result depends on the type of test being performed and can vary between 15 minutes and 7 days.
Faster tests show results between 15 and 30 minutes, but their result must be confirmed by a lab test. Laboratory test results can last between 12 hours and 7 days.
Most tests developed for COVID-19 are quite sensitive and specific, so there is a low probability of failure in diagnosis. However, the risk of obtaining a false result is higher when samples are taken at very early stages of infection, as the virus is more likely not to have replicated sufficiently or stimulates the immune system’s response to be detected.
In addition, when the sample is not collected, transported or stored correctly, it is also possible to obtain a “false negative” result. In such cases, the test should be repeated, especially if the person has signs and symptoms of the infection, has had contact with suspected or confirmed cases of the disease, or belongs to a COVID-19 risk group.
The COVID-19 laboratory test is performed using a process known as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), which is a technique that aims to increase the amount of gene material fragments of small microorganisms, such as viruses, making it easier to identify. if the virus, in this case the new coronavirus, is actually present in the evaluated sample.
In addition, this test is performed in real time, which means that in addition to identifying the presence or absence of the virus, it is also able to provide information on how the virus multiplies, providing important data on the severity of the infection.
The result of the PCR test takes longer to publish than other types of tests, but is considered the “gold standard” for the diagnosis of COVID-19, as it is a very sensitive and specific technique, which provides important results for monitoring. Up. Disease.