WHICH COVID-19 TEST IS THE MOST ACCURATE? [PCR, ANTIGEN, AND ANTIBODY TESTS EXPLAINED]

Accurate testing for COVID-19 is crucial - but which test is most reliable? We will discuss the PCR test, antigen (rapid) test, and antibody test, including some pitfalls to watch out for (especially with the antigen test!). Accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) is important, and it's important to know the differences between the tests.

1:50 - discussion of PCR test
3:50 - discussion of antigen (rapid) test
6:30 - discussion of antibody test

[melissaambassadorforchrist]

Thank you for this helpful information it was very beneficial.

[barbarakraj]

The long turnaround times for various assays based on PCR are due to the sheer volume of samples run by the laboratory and its capacity, not due to the actual test time ( which may be 45 mins). At our laboratory we try to report symptomatic cases within a few hours from sample collection and no later than the next morning. Laboratories need more support (personnel, instrumentation) to shorten turnaround time. The actual tests really do not need to be quicker. Thanks for a great video!!

[celticstephenhill]

I thought PCR tests were capable of increasing/decreasing the # of cycles which can skew results in both directions (false positive/false negatives)??

[flower]

Great video. It desperately needs more views..
Quick question: if the antibodies disappear after a month or two does that definitively mean that a re-infection is possible?

[splattrick]

Great explanation, super helpful, thank you so much!

[Rambleon]

Amazing after millions of test there are no hard numbers on PCR accuracy.

[srirampadmanabhan]

Dr thank you for the video, very nicely you have shared the various tests available. Dr i am not a medical student, would like to understand the RT PCR test a bit better. Am told that the CT value if lower means that person can be infected and a carrier, however if the CT value is higher, then the person might be carrying a piece of the virus in his nasal tract, but may not have enough viral load to affect the person. However even if there is a small piece of the virus, cant it seep through the person and multiply? Thank you for your time Dr.

[aashubaba]

I am afraid this doctor frankly has specificity definition awfully incorrect. Specificity is all about negative result and not positive results. Specificity is about NPA- negative predictive agreement. It is not about PPA as told in the video. Please get your concept clear before disseminating such wrong info for the innocent masses. Should you need to clarify your concept Dr Dave, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.