Antigen test, or the rapid test, is another common test to detect Covid-19 infection. The results of the antigen test can be obtained within 30 minutes. However, it is believed to be less accurate than other tests. It is, however, more readily accessible and cheaper than the others. Swabs are taken from nose or mouth and the test aims to detect any protein fragments of the virus which may be in the nasopharyngeal cavity. If your antigen test turns out positive, it means you are currently infected.
To talk of the basics, an antigen is any substance which prompts the immune system to produce antibodies to fight against. It is exactly these fragments of proteins of the virus that this test seeks to detect. These antigens only remain in the body while a person is infected and once the infection subsides, they disappear.
