COVID -19 TEST: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MOLECULAR vs ANTIGEN vs ANTIBODY

 

	MOLECULAR	ANTIGEN	ANTIBODY
OTHER NAME	PCR,NAAT	Rapid	Serological
SAMPLE NEED	Swap of nasopharynx,nose,or throat or saliva	Swap of nasopharynx,nose,or throat or saliva	Blood
WORK	Detects viral genetic materials	Detects proteins on surface of the virus	Detects antibody that the immune system produces against the virus
STABILITY	Refrigerated 72 hrs/frozen 4 weeks	Rapid antigen test at room temperature 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C)
METHOD	Real time	Real time	Real time
RELABILITY	Very sensitive and specific	Misses infections with low virus levels	Variable but some test are very specific
TIME	Hours/days	Minutes	Minutes
REASON	To accurately diagnose or rule out active corona virus infection	To rapidly diagnose active corona virus infection	To see if you have had corona virus infection in the past
RESULTS	Weather any viral genetic material is present even at low level	Whether the virus is present in high concentrations	Weather you are likely to have had the virus it does not detect an active infection