Rapid COVID testing is seen as a necessary method to ramp up testing nationwide. Rapid antigen testing is available however the main method I would like to talk about today is Saliva based. As testing continues the tried and true method, PCR testing will still be the most effective method of screening because it can verify at a high percentage that you have the virus. While other forms of testing are available antigen testing has a specific window and decreases as you move into the 3-6 week mark post infection.
Saliva test kits are highly beneficial for those not wanting to travel to a testing site or want a less invasive method of testing. PCR testing requires samples from the upper nasal passage taken through the nostrils and from a swab at the back of the throat. The process of taking a swab from the nose is extremely discomforting and hard to do yourself. Saliva testing is much simpler. It takes samples from your throat by spitting into a container which contains a medium. Like a DNA test this then gets sent to the lab for testing. Overall it is a much more pleasurable experience and saves you the worry of accidentally contaminating the swab beforehand removing the potential for human error.
Before the United States Federal Drug Administration approved for the home swab test to be done at home with a healthcare professional viewing the process through video call however now it has been proven that the results are accurate and the steps during sample taking are simple enough that it can be done without the supervision. Since then more products have become available and the efficacy of the saliva tests are being tested more.
Saliva tests are the way forward in terms of self testing and its looking brighter for the future as the vaccine is rolled out in the coming months
Thank you for reading and please remember to wear a mask!
Dzaim Dzulkifli
Editor
Beating Hearts
