{"id":29887,"date":"2021-12-10T10:00:48","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T16:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ipromo.com\/blog\/?p=29887"},"modified":"2022-08-04T12:16:30","modified_gmt":"2022-08-04T17:16:30","slug":"what-is-an-antigen-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.ipromo.com\/what-is-an-antigen-test\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is an Antigen Test?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source: Okrasiuk\/Shutterstock<\/span><\/p>\n

With the introduction of new COVID-19 variants, like the Omicron variant, we can assure customers that while the research is ongoing, both <\/span><\/i>Abbott BinaxNOW™<\/span><\/i><\/a> and <\/span><\/i>Quidel Quickvue™<\/span><\/i><\/a> tests are still able to accurately give positive or negative results, variant or not.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Rapid Covid testing is one of the most important tools for mitigating Covid-19 spread, both in workplaces and in the world at large. Popular rapid Covid tests like the <\/span>Abbott™ BinaxNOW<\/span><\/a> use antigen testing to offer rapid results for risk-informed decisions. To make sure you\u2019re using rapid antigen tests correctly, it\u2019s important to understand exactly what an antigen test is and what they look for. Our guide will cover the basics of antigen testing and what everyone needs to know about it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is an Antigen Test?<\/b><\/h2>\n

According to the National Institutes of Health\u2019s <\/span>MedlinePlus encyclopedia<\/span><\/a>, an <\/span>antigen <\/b>is \u201cany substance that causes your immune system to produce antibodies against it.\u201d The antibodies created bind exclusively to the antigens that they\u2019re designed for. Antigen tests use those antibodies to <\/span>detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus<\/span><\/a> in a sample. An antigen test has a strip inside it that\u2019s treated with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. If the antibodies on the test strip bind to materials from the sample, the test shows an indicator that the virus is present.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pros and Cons of Antigen Tests<\/b><\/h2>\n

The biggest upsides of antigen tests are their convenience, low cost and ready availability. Most antigen tests offer results in just 15 minutes and are highly cost-effective, especially for businesses buying large numbers of tests. In fact, iPromo now offers bulk pricing on <\/span>rapid Covid test kits for sale<\/span><\/a>, making it easy to set up your own testing program. Many models of antigen tests can be used at home or at the office without professional administration. This is important because the other <\/span>type of Covid test<\/span><\/a>, PCR testing, has to be processed through a lab and can take days to return a result.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Digital health passes are another advantage that some tests like the BinaxNOW™ offer. Using an app, a user can submit their test for third-party verification and get a QR code. Once uploaded into Abbott\u2019s Navica app, these QR codes provide verified proof of a negative test result. The most important downside is that antigen tests <\/span>aren\u2019t as accurate as PCR laboratory tests<\/span><\/a>, particularly when it comes to detecting the virus in asymptomatic people. However, antigen tests are still highly sensitive when administered correctly. The popular Abbott BinaxNOW™ home test has a sensitivity rating of 84.6%, and the point-of-care testing version boasts even better accuracy of 97.1%.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Source: BFotografie\/Shutterstock<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Take an Antigen Test<\/b><\/h2>\n

Taking an antigen test is quick and relatively simple. Your first step, however, should be to read the test\u2019s directions thoroughly. Each test works a little differently, and it\u2019s critically important to follow the instructions to the letter for accurate results. <\/span>In general<\/span><\/i>, taking an antigen test works something like this:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Use the included cotton swab to take a nasal or cheek swab sample.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Place the swab in a reagent vial. This breaks apart the cellular material in the sample so antibodies can detect the presence of the virus.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Pour the contents of the reagent vial into the receptacle on the test card.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Wait for the specified amount of time \u2014 usually around 15 minutes. This allows the sample to soak into the test card and encounter the antibodies.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Check the results on your card against what the instructions provide.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. If you\u2019d like to confirm your results, take a second test. Most Covid home test kits like the Abbott BinaxNOW™ offer two tests in each package for this reason.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Antigen vs. Antibody Testing<\/b><\/h2>\n

    It\u2019s easy to confuse antigen and antibody testing, but the two are very different. Whereas an antigen test <\/span>uses<\/span><\/i> antibodies to detect current infections, <\/span>antibody tests look for past infections<\/span><\/a> by <\/span>detecting<\/span><\/i> the antibodies your immune system produces.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    You can\u2019t use an antibody test to detect an active Covid infection. <\/b>However, these tests are only available through medical offices and labs, so you don\u2019t have to worry about buying them by accident.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Abbott BinaxNOW™ Home Test Kit<\/span><\/p>\n

    Rapid Antigen Tests in Bulk from iPromo<\/b><\/h2>\n

    If your business has employees working in person, rapid antigen tests are a must-have for keeping employees safe and reducing Covid exposure risk. iPromo offers all of the top <\/span>rapid antigen test kits<\/span><\/a>, with bulk pricing perfect for employers who are implementing employee testing programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

    See our best prices on bulk Covid test kits now, or read up on the different <\/span>types of Covid test kits<\/span><\/a> to learn more. While you\u2019re here, don\u2019t forget to check out all of our options for <\/span>custom face masks<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>custom hand sanitizer in bulk<\/span><\/a> to keep your business safe and sanitary!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n