Corona rapid tests for at home? These are the PCR test, antigen test and antibody tests

PCR method, antigens and antibody tests: There are various test options to detect an infection with the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus.

An overview:

Munich -

play an important role in the corona crisis.

"Testing is an essential part of a comprehensive pandemic control strategy,"

 can be read

on the website of the 

(RKI).

This is the only way to quickly and precisely grasp the situation in Germany.

The so-called

is currently the

gold standard in

order to provide

binding

an infection with the

.

or

are currently (as of October 1, 2020) not included in the national strategy.

But that should change, according to the Federal Ministry of Health.

Health Minister Jens Spahn announces rapid tests for the home.

Coronavirus - What is a PCR test?

A

 (polymerase chain reaction / polymerase chain reaction) is used to detect a current coronavirus infection.

This virus detection method, developed in Germany, is still considered the "gold standard".

For

, samples are taken either deep in the throat or in the nasal cavity.

A PCR test is carried out in the laboratory to determine whether the

in the smear

and whether

there is an infection with the coronavirus.

are also occasionally

used.

The process is very sensitive and therefore precise, but time-consuming.

The PCR test does not say anything about the stage of the infection the patient is at or someone has symptoms of Covid-19.

PCR test: how quickly will the result be available?

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the pure test time is four to five hours.

It usually takes one to two days from the sampling to the transmission of the result.

How Safe is a PCR Test?

The

is considered the standard procedure.

A negative result does not, of course, completely rule out the possibility that a patient is still infected with the coronavirus.

Such false-negative results can arise, for example, from poor sample quality or an inconvenient test time.

If there is justified suspicion, it should be tested again in this case.

According to the RKI, there are hardly any false-positive results - this means that a person receives a positive test result even though there is no infection.

What is a corona rapid test?

Corona rapid

tests are to be used instead of the previously customary PCR tests.

In a short time and with little effort, these tests should provide proof of corona.

A big advantage.

Positive or not?

As with a pregnancy test, these tests are designed to show a result after a few minutes.

The first products from are already on the market.

These rapid corona

are also called

.

Because, this test type looks for virus-typical proteins in the smear material.

The test then shows whether the desired pathogen protein is present in the smear from the nasopharynx.

The

for example, offers a

test that should provide evidence within 15 minutes.

The rapid test is planned to be carried out by medical specialists, but the pharmaceutical company has announced.

The swab must be inserted deep into the nasopharynx in order to obtain meaningful material.

An

antigen test from SD Biosensor is already in use

at

.

The ENT clinic uses the rapid tests for emergency patients, for example.

The

in turn, has developed a new rapid test for the detection of a coronavirus infection, which is based on the PCR method and should deliver a test result within 39 minutes.

This rapid test is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research.

Antigen tests detect a corona infection, especially in the early days.

Later on, the tests have so far been less reliable than PCR tests.

However, especially in the early phases of an infection, the rapid tests can reliably detect the virus.

The

also emphasized this

recently in the NDR podcast "The Coronavirus Update".

Coronavirus rapid test for the home?

There are currently no corona rapid tests for at home.

Pharmacists are not allowed to hand out rapid corona tests to laypeople, regardless of whether the test detects the virus directly or antibodies against a Covid 19 infection.

This is

regulated

in the

Ordinance

and the

Protection Act.

Self-tests at home would only be possible through an announcement by the RKI or a change in the regulation.

Coronavirus: what is an antibody test?

In

, which also exist as a quick version, the virus is not detected even. They can usually be used to identify a previous infection, i.e. when the body has already

formed

. However, antibodies cannot always be detected, and a patient can still be infectious. These tests are currently mainly used in studies to find out more about the spread of the virus in the population. In addition, it is still scientifically unclear how long there is immunity to the corona virus after the formation of antibodies.