How SARS-CoV2 Antigen Rapid Tests work (Covid-19 Testing)

Hey Friends,

Covid19 requires a lot of testing. This cannot be done by PCR alone since the time effort would be too much and lab capacities are already exhausted.
With antigen rapid tests (mostly lateral flow tests) the result is shown within 15-30 minutes. This can revolutionise testing! Today, I am going to explain how these antibody-based tests work. The principle is similar to an ELISA.

If you have not checked out how an ELISA works, click here:

Thanks for watching!
Cheers
Henrik

[lisakay]

I very much appreciated this simple explanation, as well as your interaction with viewers questions. From a COVID patient, thank you!

[willslevy]

Interesting and clear scientific explanation of how these tests work: the secondary line acts to capture a few antibodies, whether or not they bound to the targeted virus, allowing the capture of antibodies in the first line to signal that the specific antigen is present

[sunilnag]

Thank you! For explaining antigen test in a simplest way.

[AmandaTFair-lfvp]

Thank you!! Thank you for explaining. I'm taking a test like this now and read ALL of the directions and none of the directions explained how to read the test results. Thanks so much. Super helpful!

[yinhong]

the best explanation of how a RTK works! thanks a lot buddy

[so]

Really simple breakdown. I appreciated this explanation.

[hazelchi]

Thanks heaps for this post. Helps me to clear doubts about whether I didnt wait long enough or had missed it.

[davehugstrees]

This was the best explanation I’ve seen. Thanks!

[andy-jvqc]

why do we need to wait 15 minutes for results even if the control line is visible?

[iceapitsada]

Thank you! a very simple and effective explaining illustrations :)

[aliissa]

Thanks dear
I'm gonna buy a test kit and your video makes it the simplest way
Bless you

[robbe]

Hey Henrik, i did a test on myself yesterday. It was negative. However today i can see a dim test line. I know you can only read till 30 minutes after the test. But is there an explanation on how the test line only show up now? Should i redo my test?

[awadulcecity]

Amazing explanation thank you! Yours combined with Wired's, clears it all up

[aylwinkearney]

Hey Henrik. Great explanation, thank you. I recently tested positive for Covid and I am very close to finishing my self isolation. I have taken an antigen test today and the test line if very faint. If the test line is extremely faint what does this mean?

[frankieclayton]

Thank you! for explaining this to me in how it works it was a great help.

[hihandso]

Can you imagine natural selection somehow preventing the COVID virus from sticking to the primary antibodies in these tests?

[kempton]

Great videos. I was wondering what program you used to make these animations?

[hwanhhi]

Hello, thank you for providing such a great explanation video about how antigen rapid tests work. Because of that, may I ask you would it be okay if I take a few screenshots of this video as to use them when I explain about lateral flow essay?

[NotSoLiberal]

Still don’t understand when binding means and I gold is important

[Raniaska]

Fantastic explanation! I absolutely adore this