Antigen Test at-Home and self-testing

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea. These symptoms are usually mild and gradually start. Some people become infected but do not develop any symptoms and do not feel bad. Most people (about 80%) cured of the disease without requiring special care. About 1 in 6 people who contract the COVID-19 became seriously ill and develop difficulty breathing. Older people and those with underlying medical problems such as hypertension, heart problems or diabetes are more likely to develop serious diseases. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical advice.

Unlike PCR tests that require sending swabs to a specialised laboratory, the rapid tests (also called antigens) can return results without being sent to a specialised structure. Some tests provide results even while waiting in less than fifteen minutes. These tests are also known as lateral flow method or fluorescence.

The PCR test may take too much time for the results to be conclusive. A lateral antibody test is less costly, faster and more sensitive to identifying the covid19 virus. It has been important for hospital workers, frontline workers, and caregivers in times of covid19.