Jul 19 2022
3 Reasons to Utilize Rapid Antigen Tests
Do you know why are we using rapid antigen test against the highly transmissible omicron variant? Let’s see the advantages of rapid antigen testing, and when should you use it.
1. Why do we use rapid antigen test?
During this period, it is high time we knew our infection status as soon as possible to protect yourself and your family. Rapid antigen test can provide results in 20 minutes. Besides, it does not require electronic equipment or facilities, which allow you to get tested anywhere anytime, even the elderly can perform the simple testing steps by themselves. Rapid tests with better performance enjoy a higher accuracy rate (relatively false positive/negative rate). Apart from testing symptomatic patients, it can also successfully detect asymptomatic infected individuals.
Therefore, it is recommended to get tested regularly in order not to become another invisible virus carrier and unintentionally spread the virus to others.
2. When should we use rapid antigen test?
Should you encounter the following situations, please do not hesitate to get tested to protect you and your family:
- If you have been present at places with confirmed positive cases
- Experiencing suspected symptoms (incl. runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, sore throat)
- Have been in close contact with infected individuals
- Attended crowded gatherings or events
- Before and after travel
The following groups are also suggested to perform regular testing:
- Families with elderly or children or other high-risk individuals
- Exposed to high occupational risk (e.g. school, high-population-density work environments, high-volume retail settings)
3. What is the difference between rapid antigen test and PCR test?
While PCR tests were widely discussed when the pandemic started, rapid antigen tests have now become a more widely used system of checking for COVID-19. However, a lot of people did not have a clear understanding of the difference between a PCR and Rapid Antigen test. We have listed out the differences between the two tests for an easy understanding:
| Rapid Antigen Test | PCR Test | |
|---|---|---|
| Collect Specimen | Anterior nasal swab | Deep throat saliva Nasal and throat combined swab |
| Sample Collection | Suitable for self-sampling | Deep throat saliva is suitable for self-sampling (need to submit samples to laboratory for further analysis) Nasal and throat combined swab has to be collected by medical professionals |
| Report Time | 20 mins | A few hours to a few days |
| Detection | Virus Antigen | RNA Virus |
INDICAID® Rapid Antigen Test
- Approved by FDA EUA
- 93.4% overall accuracy
- Able to detect virus variants (incl. Delta & Omicron)
- HSA/FSA Eligible
In light of the infection spread, it is high time that everyone took preventive measures by using rapid tests regularly. Our INDICAID COVID-19 Rapid Antigen At-Home Test is easy to use and provides easy to read results in 20 minutes, it brings you and your family members’ peace of mind for your self-test needs.
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