There has been a giant leap in the testing and diagnostics of Covid-19 since the onset of novel coronavirus. From requiring a dedicated testing site and a time of week or more to get the test results to rapid self-tests at home, Covid-19 testing has come a long way. The surge of the delta COVID-19 variant around the world is driving sales of at-home COVID-19 test kits. These tests offer quick and fairly accurate results — if used in a correct way.

The best way to reduce coronavirus risk is to get vaccination and booster shot. Health at homes is offering vaccination at home in Hyderabad services to make it easier for people to get vaccinated. The second-best thing to do before gathering in fairly large numbers due to inevitable social or personal obligations is taking Covid-19 self-tests at home. Let’s try to understand the procedure and how accurate the Covid-19 tests at home are.

What is the procedure to do Covid-19 test at home?

Covid-19 tests are broadly classified into two categories- antigen and molecular test. Home tests are antigen tests that can be used right at home and can give results in 15-20 minutes without lab analysis. This test requires the sample collection in the same way with the help of the swab and check for the specific molecules present in the surface of SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Are Covid-19 tests at home accurate?

Home tests for Covid-19 are not always correct but are reasonably accurate. According to research August 2021 studyTrusted Source, home tests were able to identify 78.9% positive cases correctly and 97.1% negative cases correctly. We can say that antigen tests can be helpful in case of a high viral load. Self-test kits are not cent percent accurate, but they are of great help in detecting cases at crowded places like airports and railway stations, that could have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Negative report but experiencing symptoms

There is always a possibility of error in the test report. One such case can be when the report is showing negative, but the person experiences the symptoms of coronavirus. It is possible that the result received is false negative. In this case, it is recommended to book a PCR test as it is more accurate. You can book the test with Health at homes, as they provide doctor at home in Hyderabad services.

Next step when you think you have Covid-19

The most important step is isolation in case you think you have Covid-19. Stay calm and isolate yourself in a separate space as soon as possible. Book a PCR lab tests at home with a Health at Homes and get accurate and timely Covid-19 test results.