Why conduct a COVID RT-PCR Test?
The disease and infection that is quickly spreading around the world as of 2019-20 and 2020-21 is the coronavirus (COVID-19) such that it has now become a pandemic. The most widely known symptoms of this illness are shortness of breath, headaches, fever, dry cough, and fatigue. In rare cases, one might experience diarrhoea and constipation.
Different indications of the virus that you might encounter include:
- Muscle pain
- Loss of taste/smell
- Sore throat
- Chills
- Loss of appetite, confusion
- Nasal congestion
Certain serious indications of the active coronavirus infection include:
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
- chest pain or pressure.
- loss of speech or movement.
In order for a virus like the COVID-19 virus to be detected at the early stages early in the human body, doing a real-time COVID RT–PCR test that comes in the form of an oral or nasal swab is crucial. Now we have rapid test kits also available in the market, like flowflex covid test.
On average it takes about a week from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to start showing up, it could also take up to two weeks.
The most efficient way to prevent the spread and the transmission of the virus is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes, and the form in which it spreads. You can protect yourself from the coronavirus infection by following basic principles:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or clean them with an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Maintain at least a 1-meter distance between you and people coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
- Stay home if you feel unwell.
- Refrain from smoking and other activities that weaken the lungs.
- Practice physical distancing by avoiding unnecessary travel and staying away from large groups of people.
Being highly accurate, the COVID RT-PCR test is considered to be the topmost reliable method to detect an active coronavirus infection. During the RT-PCR procedure, the lab technician uses a sterile swab to carefully collect the contents from inside your throat or nose. Once the sample is collected, they are then sent to a lab near you for close analysis.
Unlike the COVID antibody test, the COVID RT-PCR test is used for the purpose of diagnosis for this infection. Whereas, the antibody test is only used to check the immune system’s status to fight the infection.
If someone known to you has been tested positive with the coronavirus infection in the past and has now successfully recovered, they can opt for a COVID antibody test to know the strength of their immunity to fight this coronavirus infection.
