In order not to infect the family, many want to test themselves for Corona before Christmas.
But what is the difference between the different tests?
Christmas 2020
: Which
test is it
safe to use for the
festival
?
Corona
* virus
:
The
number of cases
remains high and many are
afraid of
infecting their families.
The
PCR test
is currently considered the safest - there are
two versions of
this
test
.
Kassel - strict contact regulations, closed restaurants and no fireworks sale: In
2020
, even towards the end of the year, a lot will be different from the years before.
For many, this also applies to the preparations for
Christmas 2020.
Not only
gifts
want to be organized, it must be also clarified that no uninvited
Corona
-
virus
to the
Family Festival
are brought.
But there is not just one
test for this
, but many different ones.
We have summarized where the differences in the tests are.
Corona test before the festival: There are these tests
There are currently various methods of detecting
an
infection
with the
corona virus
.
Overall, the four
test
-
method
most commonly:
PCR test
Rapid PCR test
Antigen test
Antibody test
But not every
test procedure
is suitable for protecting the family at
Christmas
.
To find the right test procedure for you, you need to take a closer look at the individual test procedures.
PCR test before Christmas?
Allow some time for this test
This
corona test
is probably the best known at the moment.
In
politics
and the
media
, this variant was apparently the most discussed.
The
PCR test
is currently the safest
test procedure
.
For the
test
, particles are taken from the deep throat.
10 days left, then it's Christmas!
If you reduce your contacts now or even go into self-quarantine, you will lower your risk of infection in time for Christmas.
This way we can spend Christmas with our loved ones as safely as possible.
#CoronaUpdatesBMG pic.twitter.com/p8Qskc1bqb
- BMG (@BMG_Bund) December 14, 2020
These are then taken to a
laboratory
for evaluation
.
There, the material is
examined
for the presence of the
Corona virus
genetic material
.
Corona and Christmas: The results are already there after 24 hours
The evaluation in the laboratory takes at least
24 hours
, but it can also take several days until the result of the test is available.
That is why the time with this variant, whether the test before
Christmas
makes sense, is probably the decisive factor for many.
This
test
is mainly
carried out
on
people
who have
Corona
-like symptoms and / or are a Category I contact.
However, PCR tests
only provide a snapshot that should always be taken into account.
Test before Christmas: The PCR Corona test is also available in fast
In addition to the classic
PCR test,
there is also a quick
test
variant based on the same principle.
Here, too, attempts are made to
prove the
genetic material of the
corona virus
.
The
difference
to the classic
PCR test
is that this variant does not require a
laboratory
.
Similar to a pregnancy test, the material is
evaluated
directly in the
test device
.
Corona test before Christmas: There is no need to go to the laboratory
What makes the
test
fast in the end is the elimination of transport time to the
laboratory
.
Compared to the classic
PCR test
, the rapid
test
also has some disadvantages.
Not only is it more expensive than the classic test, it is also less reliable.
In
addition to a possible negative or positive
test result
, there is also the possibility of an unclear
result being
displayed in
the
PCR quick test
.
Due to the disadvantages, the
test is
only used in certain situations: For example, in old people's homes or emergency rooms.
With such a
quick PCR test
, an Austrian politician recently tried to present all tests as unsafe - he tested Cola positive for the corona virus.
The video went viral on social media and caused uncertainty.
Corona during Christmas 2020: The antigen test has advantages and disadvantages
Another way to detect
corona viruses
is a so-called
antigen test
.
In contrast to the
PCR test
, the sample is not examined for genetic material of the corona virus, but for protein fragments (protein) of the
virus
.
With this
variant
, no
laboratory is
necessary either.
There are also advantages and disadvantages to this type of verification.
The advantages are listed below:
Procedure:
Simple - Similar to a pregnancy test.
Speed:
Fast - result is available within 30 minutes.
The
test is used,
for example, as a supplement to the
PCR tests
.
In areas such as
hospitals
, they can be used for rough pre-sorting.
In addition to the advantages, there are also
disadvantages
with this
test variant
:
Test quality:
Less reliable compared to the laboratory tests.
Clarity:
the antigen test detects corona viruses.
It
cannot be determined
whether it is
Sars-Cov-2
.
A
negative test result does not necessarily give the all-clear
: Even with infection, especially at the beginning, the virus load can be so low that the test is still negative.
Christmas 2020: The antibody test shows whether the corona infection is already over
Another
test option
is the
antibody test
.
Here,
tests
are not carried out on the
corona virus
itself, but on whether the body has already had to react to it or not.
If
corona viruses
penetrate
the body, the immune system reacts after a few days by building antibodies against them.
The
antibody test
tries to prove exactly this.
+
Corona tests: Especially before Christmas, many people are considering whether to have a test for the corona virus done as a precaution.
But which test procedure does what?
(System image)
© Sebastian Gollnow / dpa
Similar to the
PCR test
, the
antibody test is also available
in different versions.
There is currently both a quick test version and a
laboratory test version.
Corona test before Christmas: WHO warns of this variant
A
rapid antibody test
is currently available commercially.
The World Health Organization (WHO) advises against this test.
According to the
WHO
, it is currently not available in a quality that is classified as reliable.
There
is no warning from the
WHO
for
the
laboratory test variant
.
These can
detect antibodies
from two weeks after infection.
Whether there is immunity when the
antibody test is
positive cannot yet be clearly answered.
Which test is
suitable
before
Christmas
must be decided by the individual patient and the doctor performing the test.
Corona test: This is how you can be tested voluntarily - pay attention to costs
In Germany, currently only people with
corona symptoms
or those who have had direct contact with
corona infected people are
tested.
Rapid tests are also used regularly in retirement homes and in the health professions, for example.
But you can also be tested voluntarily.
If you want to get
tested
for
Covid-19
, you should contact your family doctor or the medical on-call service of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians on the free telephone number 116 117.
An appointment is arranged there in a
test center
.
However, it should be borne in mind that a voluntary
corona test has to
be paid for yourself - costs between 30 and 150 euros can be incurred.
(Lucas Maier)
* hna.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
List of rubric lists: © Sebastian Gollnow / dpa