PCR tests are accurate, but they can take a long time to perform. This chart highlights the key differences between rapid antigen and PCR tests. Consider these facts when choosing the test that's right for you. Both standard and rapid PCR tests work by searching for genetic material from the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Antigen tests, on the other hand, look for specific proteins on the cell surface. This is what makes PCR tests more accurate than antigen tests. PCR and rapid tests are diagnostic tools that people and doctors can use to determine the presence of COVID-19 infection in a person. While many studies show that antigen tests have a low sensitivity compared to PCR tests, subsequent research states that they have a high specificity or can correctly detect people who do not have the disease. Because of the rigorous PCR testing process, a person may have to wait hours or days while lab technicians analyze their sample.
On the other hand, the CDC states that PCR tests can give positive results weeks or months after the initial infection. A positive viral test (PCR or antigen test) indicates that a person had COVID-19 at the time of being tested. According to the World Health Organization, both PCR and rapid antigen tests can detect the Ómicron variant and older variants. To detect COVID-19, people can test with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swabs or rapid tests (antigens).
The amplifying property of PCR allows the test to successfully detect even the smallest amount of coronavirus genetic material in a sample. Because PCR tests can screen for small amounts of COVID genetic material, they are very sensitive and are less likely to generate false-negative results. People who have been exposed to the virus or who have been in high-risk areas and who need to undergo a medical procedure or who continue to have symptoms even with a negative antigen test, should be tested of PCR.
