At some point during this pandemic, companies will require their employees to test for it and in most cases, it will be with the rapid test that is currently being used. For the next couple of posts, we are going to explore the various test and the results that you can expect.
WHAT CAN WE TEST FOR?
RNA: ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid present in all living cells. Its principal role is to act as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA for controlling the synthesis of proteins, although in some viruses RNA rather than DNA carries the genetic information.
this is a common test that tells you if you have an active infection.
ANTIGENS: a toxin or other foreign substance that induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies. In simple terms, an antigen is any substance that causes your immune system to produce antibodies against it.
ANTIBODIES: a blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen. Antibodies combine chemically with substances that the body recognizes as alien, such as bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances in the blood. IgM is usually the first antibody produced by the immune system when a virus attacks. A positive IgM test indicates that you may have been infected and that your immune system has started responding to the virus.
IgG antibodies that develop in most patients within seven to 10 days after symptoms of COVID-19 begin. IgG antibodies remain in the blood after an infection has passed. These antibodies indicate that you may have had COVID-19 in the recent past and have developed antibodies that may protect you from future infections.
Terms: Immunoglobulin M (IgM), which is found mainly in the blood and lymph fluid, is the first antibody to be made by the body to fight a new infection.
Immunoglobulin G (IgG), the most abundant type of antibody, is found in all body fluids and protects against bacterial and viral infections
Comments