Rapid antigen detection tests are based on this principle. By now, many people have experienced an antigen test, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, or both for COVID-19.

For any American wondering if they have Covid-19, there are two kinds of tests available: polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid antigen (sometimes just called “rapid tests”). The two tests ...

Last week, I was about to go on a date, and because I'm severely immunocompromised, we agreed he would take a COVID test using one of my rapid home PCR tests ... and watch in real time as the results ...

What is an at-home rapid antigen test, and how does it differ from a PCR test? Most at-home tests are rapid antigen tests that look for specific proteins of the virus to detect infection.

There are three different ways to test for COVID-19: PCR tests, antigen tests and antibody tests. Here are the differences.

At-home rapid tests for COVID-19 are more convenient. But experts say there are still times when a PCR test is useful.

The first, called a RT-PCR test, is more than 95% accurate for detecting the virus. These were the tests that most Americans were given at drive-through and walk-in testing sites early in the ...

You can exhibit COVID-19 symptoms yet test negative due to early infection, low viral load, or immune response. PCR testing ...

Why should you use an antigen test instead of a PCR test? Jetelina explained they are two different tools with different benefits. “PCR tests just tell us if we have the virus in our system or not.

People who test positive for COVID-19 on a rapid test after five days of isolation are probably still infectious and should continue isolating, experts say. Though PCR tests are known to pick up ...