Rapid COVID-19

Antigen tests are relatively inexpensive, and most can be used at the point of care. Most of the currently authorized tests return results in approximately 15–30 minutes.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

The tests are generally less reliable than the traditional PCR tests, but they still have relatively high accuracy and allow for faster results., pulvinar dapibus leo.

A rapid COVID-19 test, also called an antigen test, detects proteins from the virus which causes COVID-19. This type of test is considered most accurate in those individuals who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

The clinical performance of diagnostic tests largely depends on the circumstances in which they are used. Both antigen tests and NAATs perform best if the person is tested when their viral load is generally highest. Because antigen tests perform best in symptomatic people and within a certain number of days since symptom onset, antigen tests are used frequently on people who are symptomatic. Antigen tests also may be informative in diagnostic testing situations in which the person has a known exposure to a person with COVID-19.

In a community setting, when testing a person who has symptoms compatible with COVID-19, the healthcare provider generally can interpret a positive antigen test to indicate that the person is infected with SARS-CoV-2; this person should follow CDC’s guidance for isolation. However, if the person who has received a positive antigen test result is fully vaccinated, the healthcare provider should inform the public health authorities. Ideally, a separate specimen would be collected and sent to a laboratory for viral sequencing for public health purposes.

PCR tests remain the gold standard for detecting an active COVID-19 infection. The tests have accurately detected COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. Highly trained clinical professionals are skilled at correctly interpreting PCR test results and notices like this one from the WHO.