COVID-19 self-tests (likewise described as home tests or non-prescription (OTC) tests) are one of many risk-reduction measures, in addition to vaccination, masking, and physical distancing, that protect you and others by decreasing the possibilities of spreading SARS-CoV-2, the infection that causes COVID-19. Self-tests can be taken at home or anywhere, are easy to use, and produce rapid results. You can use self-tests, regardless of vaccination status, or whether or not you have symptoms. Follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions for carrying out the test.
Testing is seriously essential to help in reducing the spread of the infection that triggers COVID-19. If you have symptoms or had a known direct exposure to someone with thought or verified COVID-19, you must be checked, no matter your vaccination status. You may likewise think about self-testing to screen for COVID-19 right away prior to an activity to see if you are positive for COVID-19. You need to separate if you test favorable.
Most of the self-collection kits are molecular (also called PCR) tests, the most precise type of COVID-19 test. These can be done either on a nasal swab or a sample of your saliva. The self-test kits that provide fast results are antigen tests, which look for particles found on the surface of the COVID-19 virus. You take a nasal swab for these tests, which tend to be more economical than the molecular ones. The FDA warns that these swabs are implied to enter your nose only. If you put them in your throat, you could choke or get an incorrect result.
A negative test result suggests that you may not be infected and may be at low threat of spreading illness to others, though it does not eliminate an infection. Repeating the test will increase the confidence that you are not contaminated. Carrying out serial tests, implying 2 or more tests over several days with at least 24 hours in between tests– with one test as close as possible to the event you will participate in– enhances the dependability of testing and lowers your danger of transmitting illness to others even further. Some self-tests need this type of repeat testing in the producer’s instructions.
Self-testing offers fast results. Self-tests are among numerous choices for testing for the virus that causes COVID-19 and may be easier than laboratory-based tests and point-of-care tests. Think about keeping self-tests in your home or where you may require them. Self-tests can be bought online or in pharmacies and retail stores. They are also offered totally free through some regional health departments external icon or Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). As of November 2021, self-tests are readily available to find current infection. Self-tests are not available to identify antibodies to the infection that triggers COVID-19.
At-home COVID-19 tests are processed in the very same labs utilized by medical professionals at primary care medical professionals’ offices and medical facilities. They are just as dependable and efficient. It’s essential to follow the instructions offered by the test kit service provider to make sure the most precise results. Everly well, for example, keeps in mind that samples should be collected and returned on the exact same day. The business likewise notes a variety of reasons the sample may be rejected, consisting of not being appropriately sealed.
If you test positive, you need to isolate and inform your healthcare provider, as well as any close contacts. Consider utilizing a self-test prior to signing up with indoor gatherings with others who are not in your family. A favorable self-test outcome indicates that the test spotted the virus, and you are very likely to have an infection and needs to stay at home or isolate for 10 days, use a mask if you might have contact with others, and prevent indoor events to lower the threat of spreading illness to another person. An unfavorable self-test outcome suggests that the test did not identify the virus and you may not have an infection, however it does not rule out infection. Repeating the test within a few days, with a minimum of 24 hours in between tests, will increase the confidence that you are not contaminated.
Some self-tests are developed for single usage. Others need you take repeat tests within a 2- to 3-day window to verify your outcome. Follow the producer’s instructions carefully. If you’re not sure about your results, consult your physician. If you’re unsure which house test to get, ask your pharmacist or medical professional. Check out the FDA’s site for a complete list of approved COVID-19 house test kits. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, such as a fever, a dry cough, or shortness of breath, you might question getting evaluated for the coronavirus. Physician can test some people in centers or hospitals.
There are several choices for at-home tests that can tell you if you have COVID-19, the health problem triggered by a coronavirus. They include rapid test s that give you results at home within minutes and home collection kits that are sent out to a laboratory for analysis. With self-test kits, you swab yourself and get results in a few minutes, comparable to a house pregnancy test. For self-collection kits, you register the test online, take your own swab, and express-ship it to the test company. You get your results either online or by e-mail or text. You might have them as quickly as 24 hours after the laboratory gets your swab, though it may take longer if there’s a backlog.
Feeling symptoms. You must buy a test as soon as you begin feeling any COVID-19 symptoms, and especially if you do not want to run the risk of exposing anyone else by getting tested at an in-person site. If you’re utilizing an antigen test, it might be most effective to test once again in 12 to 24 hours after your very first unfavorable outcome to confirm your results.
While you may not know for sure if you have it, many people with moderate symptoms can recuperate from COVID-19 on their own in your home. You ought to rest. It can relieve your symptoms and may help you recuperate faster. Stay away from others. Don’t go to work, school, or public locations. Attempt to keep yourself separate from other individuals in your house. Drink a lot of fluids. Dehydration will make your symptoms even worse. Ask your physician about over the counter medicines that might reduce your symptoms. If your symptoms become worse, call your doctor or a healthcare facility.
