One of the most important things you can do if you want to keep yourself and others around you safe is invest in regular COVID testing. Fortunately, the last year and a half has proven more than enough time for researchers and doctors to develop accurate and painless tests. Let’s review.
There are two main types of COVID tests: nasal swabs and blood samples. Nasal swab tests can be performed as rapid tests or as PCR tests.
Rapid tests involve swabbing both nostrils, while PCR tests involve a deeper swab of the back of the nasal passageway. These tests are able to tell whether you have COVID-19 or not based on the contents of the swab tests, since the nasal passageways and throat are where the virus is typically concentrated.
Blood tests, on the other hand, are able to tell doctors a few things. First, they can tell doctors whether COVID-19 is in your body by looking for the virus. In addition, they can also tell doctors if your body is producing the antibodies necessary to fight off a COVID-19 infection.
.
