Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid (antigen) tests for COVID-19 both involve taking a swab. Results for a PCR test take longer, as it needs to go to a laboratory. It is more costly but tends to ...

Rapid antigen tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are effective tools for the diagnosis of acute infection, particularly when used serially. 1 The percentage of ...

COVID-19 tests are in greater demand than ever, and new data about the Omicron variant can make picking and using different types of tests confusing. Molecular tests for COVID-19, like the "RT-PCR" ...

Cities and states across the country are looking to expand coronavirus testing as part of efforts to emerge from lockdowns, but two major barriers remain: how to screen huge parts of the population ...

Antigen tests can identify the presence of antigens within the body, which are substances that cause immune responses, such as the release of antibodies. The immune system, and antibodies specifically ...

The United States is once again watching coronavirus cases and hospitalizations rise as summertime nears. Nearly half of Americans – 45 percent – are living in communities with medium or high ...

With Omicron surging in the United States, many people are taking COVID-19 tests to see whether they test positive. Most people will take either a rapid antigen or PCR test. Though the PCR test is ...

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At-home PCR tests are just as accurate as those done in a lab. At-home antigen tests are more budget-friendly and give results quicker, but there is a greater chance of a false negative. As of ...

The antigen test uses a novel fluorescent probe for optical detection on the chip. This illustration shows the full antigen-capture complex assembled as a sandwich assay on a magnetic bead; a linker ...

A PCR test is often considered the gold standard for detecting coronavirus infection. It’s the test some employers want employees to take before returning to work after having Covid-19, and the one ...