How to Get Tested for Coronavirus: Eligibility, Procedure, and Distribution of Result

Updated on January 14, 2023


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People want to be tested for coronavirus, but not everyone is eligible for it. Due to the shortage of rapid test kits, the government prioritized individuals that are most eligible for the test. But most of us are curious as to how it performed and who is eligible to be tested. The good news is that you can now receive kits from companies such as FirstSign LFT.

When you have the symptoms, are you eligible to be tested out? Is it free? Or how will they distribute the result? These questions are common because people are starting to worry about this virus. To answer your curiosity, we will talk about the eligibility, procedure, and how they handle the result. 

Eligibility

Some areas are providing free testing for coronavirus in all residents, but most countries are prioritizing individuals who are more likely to have the virus. Many third world countries are considering the coronavirus testing kit price, which causes them only to choose who should get tested. 

They classified the eligibility into two: the priority and the high priority. Individuals considered as high priority are the patients hospitalized with existing symptoms. People working as frontliners who are manifesting symptoms associated with coronavirus are also highly prioritized. 

It is because they are the ones who are more susceptible to be infected with the virus. People who are exposed to COVID positive individuals are also highly prioritized to prevent or monitor the spread of the infection. They will trace all individuals who came in contact with a COVID positive patient and perform the test. 

Individuals who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 who don’t have any contact with a positive patient will fall under priority. It is because there is a possibility that these individuals are only experiencing seasonal flu. 

Some people who get tested for various reasons like monitoring and surveillance are also prioritized. Communities are also undergoing mass testing in some areas to screen asymptomatic individuals. 

The Procedure of Testing

If you want to be tested, you first need to schedule an appointment with your physician. Your doctor will then decide whether you are eligible or not. If the physician decides you must undergo a test, you will be recommended for testing. 

The procedure depends on the type of testing method. Serology tests are done by extracting blood samples from the patient. The blood will then undergo a process where the serum will be separated. The serum is the one used to detect antibodies in the patient’s system. 

This antibody indicates that the person tested was exposed to the virus. This type of test is not suitable for detecting persons who are currently infected. Most people who are tested positive through this method are those who already recovered. 

The procedure of the second method is more complicated. The patient will undergo a nasopharyngeal swab from deep inside the patient’s nose. The sample then forwarded to the testing laboratory, which will be conducted by well-trained professionals. This method is called the RT-PCR, which used to detect an ongoing infection of the coronavirus disease. Tests are advised to be undertaken on approved testing facilities only. 

Handling and Distribution of the Results

The result will be typically available after a few hours. It is then forwarded to the facility where the patient is admitted. Your doctor will then inform you about the result. If you tested positive for the coronavirus, everyone who had close contact with you will be notified and will be placed under monitoring. 

You will be isolated and closely monitored for aggravation of the symptoms. Some COVID positive patients who have mild symptoms are allowed to medicare at home. However, these patients should follow strict guidelines to prevent the further spreading of the disease. Only severe cases are admitted to the facility to avoid congestion. 

The result then forwarded to the local health unit where the patient is residing. The data submitted must be complete and correct. It is used to record the number of infections and help map the spread of the virus. This data will also be used to trace all persons who came in contact with the patient. 

Data from the local health unit is then forwarded to the national health office before it will be sent to the WHO for the recording and monitoring of the virus. It is then reported to the public via media after several procedures conducted to attain correct and accurate information before making it available to the public.

There are still many stages in how they distribute the result to the right authority. This procedure varies in every country. The information provided to the public must be legit. 

Takeaway

COVID-19 tests are pricey and complicated to perform. For this reason, mass testing can be limited. The shortage of test kits and chemicals used in these tests is also one of the factors that hinder large-scale testing for all individuals. The best way to make sure you won’t acquire the virus is to stay home and practice proper hygiene. 

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