Which Type of Test is Best for Covid-19?
With around 50% of Covid sufferers asymptomatic which means they don’t show any symptoms or only show them after around 10 days, Covid testing has never been as important to try and help prevent the spread of the disease. The pharmaceutical and private healthcare sector is working to support the NHS in these unprecedented times with PTMD offering a private GP service in Droitwich and a private GP service in Bromsgrove for those people who need an urgent appointment. If you are concerned about Covid and want a test or have worries over another health condition which might be affected by Covid, you can gain access to private testing at PTMD.
Testing for COVID-19
There are currently two types of Covid-19 tests and these are:
- Diagnostic tests which look for active Coronavirus infection in your mucus or saliva
- Blood tests that hunt for antibodies which are evidence that your immune system has encountered the infection before
What is the Covid Antigen Test?
An antigen is a toxin or other foreign substance which induces an immune response in the body especially because it produces antibodies. This is the blood test which can tell whether you have already been exposed to the Coronavirus.
What is PCR testing?
Currently, the majority of all the Covid-19 tests use PCR technology. They detect the genetic information of the virus which is only possible if it is present at the point of testing and someone is actively infected. The PCR Covid test is used to detect the presence of an antigen rather than the body’s immune response or antibodies. By detecting what is called viral RNA, which is present in the body before antibodies form or symptoms of the disease are present, this can tell whether or not someone has the virus early on.
In the current lockdown situation, people are worried about accessing NHS services not only because of the risk of infection by travelling to communal testing points but also the extra burden this may place on a system which is already over-stretched. Using private doctor services in a targeted way provides peace of mind and rapid reassurance via online consultations or, in some cases, face to face appointments and testing. PTMD offers a private GP service in Droitwich and a private GP service in Bromsgrove. You can find out more on our website www.pharmacytomydoor.co.uk
