Jason Lefkowitz on Nostr: "What you think of as a home COVID test is a rapid antigen test. They measure for ...
"What you think of as a home COVID test is a rapid antigen test. They measure for proteins on the outside of SARS-CoV-2, but they have a major flaw: They can only detect active virus.
This is why, if you already have symptoms, a negative antigen test isn't conclusive. You may need to test a number of times to confirm you have COVID.
A PCR test can detect even small amounts of the virus. This is why it has always been considered the 'gold standard' of COVID testing. Until last year, you needed to get a PCR from a testing center, but home tests have evolved and there are now four rapid, at-home PCR tests."
https://lifehacker.com/where-to-find-a-pcr-covid-test-and-why-you-need-one-1850779459
This is why, if you already have symptoms, a negative antigen test isn't conclusive. You may need to test a number of times to confirm you have COVID.
A PCR test can detect even small amounts of the virus. This is why it has always been considered the 'gold standard' of COVID testing. Until last year, you needed to get a PCR from a testing center, but home tests have evolved and there are now four rapid, at-home PCR tests."
https://lifehacker.com/where-to-find-a-pcr-covid-test-and-why-you-need-one-1850779459