At Home COVID Testing Is Here, But Is It Useful?

At Home COVID Testing | Self-Testing COVID Kit Overview 

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we are eager to find out the latest cure, and COVID-19 rapid detection kit to detect this severe respiratory disease. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic, which first surfaced in December 2019, China. 

Testing is critically important to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 infection. Self-testing or at-home COVID testing may be considered a viable option if you want more immediate results. You should self isolate once you have tested positive. If your COVID-19 test is positive, it is important to inform a healthcare provider and stay connected with them throughout the duration of your illness. In an effort to prevent the spread of illness, please follow the local public health department and public health guidelines. 

Self-tests can be performed at home or anywhere else, also self-test kits are referred to as “over-the-counter tests (OTC)”, “home tests” and “at-home tests.” However, self-test kits may not be as good as laboratory tests to provide accurate results. Please be advised that some self-test kits have an age limitation. If conditions permit, please proceed to be tested at your primary care physician’s office.

How Accurate are Home COVID-19 Rapid Tests?

If your test result is negative

A negative test indicates that COVID-19 was not detected, but does not rule out an infection. Self-isolation is still recommended after testing, or until signs/symptoms improve. Patients should be aware of downsides that may potentially diminish the accuracy of at-home testing kits or self-testing kits. In addition to being unfamiliar with the administration of tests,  false-negative or inconclusive results may be due to inadequate production of sample materials, damage of testing kit due to improper handling, or poor storage conditions. Individuals who are suspicious of having COVID, and have been recently exposed to carriers of COVID-19 but tested negative, should receive additional testing from their health care providers. 

If your test result is positive

A positive test means there is currently an active infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. Generally, COVID-19 rapid testing kits, either self-testing or lab results, are very accurate to detect the presence of the SARS CoV-2 virus. In the case an individual is tested positive, then they should follow self-isolation guidelines according to local public health regulations and wear a mask if they could have contact with others. It is also important to inform or disclose to others with whom you have recently been in close contact. In addition, it is important to inform and update your healthcare provider. If your symptoms become more severe, seek medical attention, and follow local CDC guidelines and advice from public health experts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You will need to self-isolate until your symptoms have improved and it has been 24 hours since you had a fever. At least five days, since COVID-19 symptoms first appeared. 

What are the Different Types of COVID-19 Testing Devices?

Antigen Test

Antigen tests or rapid antigen tests examine the protein from the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Antigen tests don’t require any specialized equipment and can produce results as fast as within 15 minutes. Test samples include nasal swabs. However, antigen test kits are not as accurate as PCR tests or laboratory tests, in other words, an individual can still be infected but test negative. An individual who demonstrates COVID-19 symptoms but tested negative should self-isolate and follow the public health guideline, i.e. receive clinical testing or be re-tested at the testing site for confirmation. Antigen tests are effective in detecting current infection.

PCR Test

PCR tests are highly sensitive molecular tests that can only be done in a laboratory setting and usually take 1-3 days for test results. PCR tests detect genetic material specific for coronavirus and can detect the presence of virus earlier than antigen tests. PCR tests can detect SARS-CoV-2 before days of symptom onset and it is effective in detecting current infection.

Antibody Test

Antibody tests are used to look for antibodies in your blood that fight the virus which caused COVID-19. Antibodies are proteins created by your immune system to help you fight off infections. Antibodies are produced when you have been infected by a virus or you have been vaccinated against the infection. Once again, antibody tests are not used to diagnose current infections, but rather past infections. It can take the body 1-3 weeks after the infection for your body to make antibodies. 

How Long Does it Take to Get the Results for COVID-19 Tests?

Many home testing kits can generate results as fast as 15 minutes with the proper techniques and handling. However, patients should be aware of false-negative and inconclusive results. Patients who are suspected to be infected with COVID-19 but tested negative should see their doctor or get retested which may take 1-3 days. 

How to Collect COVID-19 Test Samples?

Prior to collection, it is important to wash both hands with soap to maintain proper sanitation. Please follow the instructions included with the self-testing kit to collect the saliva sample and nasal swab sample. It is crucial to collect samples as instructed or the results may be inconclusive or incorrect. In addition, the manufacturer may provide you with additional information such as instructional videos to ensure correct specimen collection. The majority of the testing process requires nasal swab samples, while a few require saliva specimens. When confused, please consult a health care provider. 

How Accurate are Rapid COVID-19 Tests for Omicron? 

Compared to laboratory or PCR testing, self-testing kits lag behind in terms of accuracy.  The short answer is that the take-home test should detect the Omicron variant. However, early data suggests that at-home COVID-19 tests may be less sensitive at picking up variants and PCR tests would be a more accurate alternative testing. Take home testing kits will pick up COVID-19 regardless of the variant and take home testing kits are still a good way to generate more rapid results. Scientists and researchers still make sure that the take-home tests are compatible with each variant. The sensitivity of take-home tests to different variants will be different depending on the brand. Please consult your healthcare provider beforehand. Of course, a follow-up PCR test is a good idea for more confirmation done at testing sites and hospitals. 

Conclusions

An at-home coronavirus test is a convenient way, especially for many international travelers, to get tested without visiting community health centers. These self-testing kits generate rapid results in the comfort of your home, regardless of your vaccination status. However, someone can still have COVID yet test negative with at-home COVID-19 testing kit or self-testing kit. ,   It is crucial to practice other risk reduction measures recommended by your local public health authorities including vaccination, masking distancing to reduce and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Lastly, it’s important to include your doctor and make him or her your healthcare partner. When making important decisions about your health, you will have someone to keep in mind all of your underlying health conditions and other factors that will determine what you truly need to stay healthy.

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