STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Rapid Antigen Test is the first step that a person has to undergo while going through the process of COVID-19 testing.
Dwelling on this testing process, the Medical Officer of COVID Scanning Centre Ward No. 30, Dr Jyoti Prasad Barman elaborated, "First, nasal swab is collected. Then, the collected sample is mixed with a buffer solution. Next, three drops of that particular mixture are placed on a kit. If the kit shows two lines, then the swab sample is considered to be positive. The kit takes about 15 to 20 minutes to deliver the result. We are allowed to show the result to the concerned person."
Dr Barman further said, "If the Rapid Antigen Test result indicates a positive case, the person is 100 percent COVID positive. In such a case, we keep the person in the respective COVID Scanning Centre; and in consultation with higher authorities the patient is sent to either a prescribed COVID hospital or COVID Care Centre."
However the fact remains that even if a Rapid Antigen Test indicates a negative result then that person may not be COVID negative, Dr Barman pointed out, adding, "in such a situation, the person is taken through a confirmatory test the same day. This test is known as RT-PCR (real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction).
"During this process, we collect nasal and throat swabs from the person. Then we send the collected samples to the laboratory. The results are received after four to five days.
"Till we get the results, the person will have to give an undertaking for remaining in home isolation. If the confirmatory RT-PCR test result is positive then the patient is admitted in a COVID hospital or COVID Care Centre.
"However if this result is also negative, then such a person is 100 percent COVID negative."
The swabs are collected so that the laboratory can extract the ribonucleic acid or RNA, which is the genetic material of the virus.
On the differences between normal fever and COVID-related fever, Dr Barman said, "It can't be initially ascertained as to whether the fever is due to COVID-19 or some other reasons. All such fevers are due to viruses. Besides, the symptoms are the same. It is to differentiate the fever that the tests are conducted as per the government guidelines.
"But in cases where a person despite being COVID negative is still suffering from fever then the ailment is due to reasons other than coronavirus."