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Rapid Antigen Tests and Their Role in Fighting Against COVID-19

Rapid antigen tests have been playing a crucial role in curbing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the dreaded COVID-19 disease. Although these tests are not the gold standard in detecting coronavirus infection, they are instrumental as the preliminary test for individuals with COVID-19 symptoms.

Many who have benefitted from using the rapid antigen tests are from the business and service sectors. A lot of companies use this type of test to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace because they provide quick results. Given that rapid antigen tests are affordable, employers can also regularly test their personnel and isolate the sick from the entire working population.

To get the most out of using rapid antigen tests, you should ensure that the test kits are reliable and sourced from a reliable supplier.

When Should You Get Tested for COVID-19?

You should get a rapid antigen test right away if you have any COVID-19 symptoms. The faster you find out if you have COVID-19, the sooner you can stay away from other people.

Early testing is also essential because most new drugs used to treat the disease work best when given early in the course of an infection, soon after the first signs of illness.

If your antigen test returns negative, but you still feel sick, you may have gotten a false negative. If the test returns positive, you should stay home and get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible to discuss your symptoms.

If you’ve been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient but don’t have any symptoms and are fully vaccinated, you should wait five to seven days after the exposure before getting a rapid antigen test. However, if you’re unvaccinated, you should get tested right away. Also, even if you don’t feel sick, you should get tested five to seven days after exposure.

Like many other respiratory viruses, COVID-19 takes a few days after exposure to build up in your body. During this early stage of an infection, the amount of viral protein is low, so a quick test might not be able to tell if you are infected. This is why many antigen tests recommend a series of tests over several days, with at least 24 hours between each test.

Rapid antigen tests are often accurate when a person is contagious because that’s when the most virus is in their body system.

What Should I Do if I Test Positive for COVID-19?

Here are the best things to do as soon as you finish undergoing one of the available rapid antigen tests and discover that you are infected with COVID-19.

Isolation is an important thing to do when you test positive for COVID-19. The technique helps in preventing the spread of the virus to other people. Given that COVID-19 is very contagious, it is important that everyone who has symptoms and those exposed to COVID-19 patients be tested so they can be isolated immediately. Thus, using rapid antigen tests is always necessary.

You also need to inform everyone who has close contact with you. By doing this, your close contacts can take the required quarantine precautions, as well as get tested using the available rapid antigen tests or PCR tests when needed.

Whilst in isolation, make sure to monitor your symptoms. Doing this allows you to determine if your situation is getting worse. If you are experiencing the following, seek immediate emergency care as soon as possible.

  • Breathing difficulty
  • Bluish lips
  • Confusion
  • Chest pain
  • Inability to stay awake

Aside from monitoring your day-to-day conditions, you can also check after a few days in isolation if you are still positive using the rapid antigen tests. 

Although most of those who are tested positive for COVID-19 usually experience mild symptoms, informing your doctor about your situation is still needed. This allows the doctor to assess your situation and determine if any treatment is necessary. Also, getting in touch with your physician could help you obtain advice only a medical professional can provide.

Where to Buy the Rapid Antigen Test Kits?

The supply of rapid antigen tests in the market is abundant. In fact, you can purchase these kits almost everywhere. Unfortunately, this condition has allowed the proliferation of sub-standard and unreliable test kits in the market. You need to be extra careful in buying the kits for rapid antigen tests. So, to avoid purchasing the fake and substandard versions, consider buying the kits from the following.

Pharmacies are among the most reliable sources of kits used for rapid antigen tests. In most cases, these shops offer a wide range of options that allow you to choose the product that best suits your budget. Also, you can be sure that the test kits they sell are genuine and reliable.

Buying rapid antigen test kits from local dealerships can be a good option. This is because these dealerships are into selling high-quality products. Thus, you are assured that you are getting the best out of your money and help in boosting your area’s local economy.

Finally, you can also buy the test kits for rapid antigen tests from authorised retailers. However, you need to source the said products only from reliable sellers. 

Dexcon | Leading Medical PPE Supplier in Australia

Rapid antigen tests have served as a more affordable alternative for COVID-19 detection. They have become an effective tool in preventing the spread of COVID-19. 

If you plan or are tasked to purchase rapid antigen test kits, it is essential to buy the products from reliable sources like us at Dexcon. We have a proven track record of supplying the best kits at competitive prices. For more details about our products, contact us today.