Even those following the rules of social distancing and continuing to wash their hands are at risk of catching the coronavirus. It is an extremely contagious disease that can be spread if even a small amount of the population refuses to take precautions, resulting in many countries being forced to enter quarantine. So what exactly happens when someone develops a cough and fever, prompting them to undergo coronavirus testing?
Coronavirus testing is available in every state in the United States, including territories such as Guam and Puerto Rico. Currently, there are 97 CDC approved laboratories that can test for the virus, and have thus far tested over 350,000 individuals.
To perform coronavirus testing, the process is relatively simple, and the fee ranges from around $30 to $52. Most testing sites involve the patient to remain in their car while the test is administered. First, a swab is inserted up the patient’s nose where it eventually reaches the back of their nasal passage. The swab remains at the passage until it has absorbed enough secretions to be tested. This test can be uncomfortable, and borderline painful for the patient, especially if they have an inflamed nasal passage. Sometimes, another test will be administered which involves a swab gathering secretion from the back of the patient’s throat.
This form of testing, the most common one, is a type of molecular test. These tests look for signs of active infection and will be unable to determine if the patient had the virus in the past. The sample gathered from the patient will be put through a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. PCR tests allow scientists to duplicate and amplify DNA in order to study it more thoroughly. Scientists doing coronavirus testing will look for two different COVID genes in order to see if the patient will test positive for the virus. These tests can take up to a few days to process.
Scientists are currently developing a way to test for coronavirus at home; however, the CDC has yet to approve of any of these testing kits. Some companies have already begun selling at home test kits, but there is no way to confirm the safety or reliability of these kits. The projected prices of these kits are around $130, significantly more expensive than the current form of testing.
A less common form of testing is through blood samples. By using serology tests, scientists can identify if someone has the antibodies that fight coronavirus. These tests are given to people who came in close contact with those who tested positive for the virus, or those who did have the virus itself. Using this test, scientists can determine if someone recovered from the coronavirus.
Although they are not helpful to those simply wondering if they have the disease, serological tests can provide scientists with helpful information about coronavirus that could eventually lead to better treatments for the virus. For example, it is possible that those who have severe cases of coronavirus could be treated with a blood transfusion; blood with antibodies could be given to the infected individual to fight the virus. Additionally, testing allows for people to discover if they are immune to the virus, making some of the population feel more comfortable and even helping to get society working efficiently again.
Testing has become increasingly more available in the past month, but there are still many more testing kits that need to be made. Additionally, improving the accuracy of molecular tests is a necessity. Currently, the tests are around 70% accurate, meaning those who test negative for the virus should still self-isolate to ensure the safety of others. Moreover, test priority goes to those who are more susceptible, such as pregnant women, those of older age, and those with other health conditions. Thus, the most important thing during this tough time is to ensure the safety of yourself and others by continuing to take precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.