SARS-CoV-2 RNA (RT PCR COVID-19)
- The result is available in two languages, Polish and English
- The result can be available online or in paper form at any checkup point
- The result is ready the next day
About the Test
The nose swab PCR test for COVID-19 is accurate and reliable for diagnosing COVID-19.
Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based diagnostic tests (which detect fragments of the virus) are considered the gold standard for detecting current SARS-CoV-2 infection. A positive test means you likely have COVID-19. A negative test means you probably did not have COVID-19 at the test time.
Clinicians typically diagnose respiratory infection by viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 by directly detecting viral nucleic acid or protein in respiratory tract specimens. The two most frequently used tools are polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and rapid antigen-based tests. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, reverse-transcriptase PCR tests were the first to be developed and widely deployed.
Purpose of the test
RT-PCR test to confirm coronavirus infection SARS-CoV-2 is performed in certain situations:
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confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in people with symptoms characteristic of infection (e.g., fever, shortness of breath, dry cough, loss, or loss of smell and/or taste);
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asymptomatic individuals with known or suspected contact with a COVID-19 case;
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symptomless individuals when the results will impact isolation/quarantine/personal protective equipment usage decisions, dictate eligibility for surgery, or inform the administration of immunosuppressive therapy;
Importantly, the reliability of the result depends on the correct collection of the sample material for testing, as well as the time of collection (test time from infection/symptoms). It is known that the highest concentration of virus in the human nasopharynx is in the first week after the first symptoms indicating a possible infection.
How is a PCR test different from a COVID-19 antigen?
While PCR and antigen tests both check for signs of an active SARS-CoV-2 infection, there are important differences between them:
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A PCR test looks for traces of the virus’s genetic material instead of proteins found on the outside of the virus.
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A PCR can be conducted on a sample taken from your nose, throat, or saliva, but antigen tests are performed on samples from your nose or behind the nose.
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While both are available as both laboratory and point-of-care tests, antigen tests are more frequently used for point-of-care testing.
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Antigen tests generally cost less than PCR tests.
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PCR tests are considered to be more accurate and may be used to confirm the results of an antigen test.