PCR tests are generally considered to be the gold standard in accurately checking whether a patient is carrying COVID-19. This article compares PCR tests to antigen tests. 

Accurate, high-quality testing is essential to ensure that the coronavirus pandemic is effectively managed and to guarantee that further breakouts can be avoided. This is true even with the significant increase in vaccinations. The two main types of testing are PCR tests and antigen tests. While one can be completed in the comfort of the home, another must be completed using lab results. Below are the pros and cons of each. 

PCR Tests


Benefits Of PCR Tests

The main benefit of PCR tests is that they are considered to provide a gold standard of accuracy compared to other options including antigen tests. It is believed that PCR tests are 99% accurate. One report has found that PCR tests correctly identified COVID-19 in at least 97.2% of cases

Another clear benefit of PCR tests is that they are checked in labs by medical professionals. As such, there is a far lower chance of a technical issue resulting in a false positive or a false negative. 

PCR tests are also more likely to provide an accurate result at various different stages of a person contracting COVID-19. It can provide an accurate positive or negative result, regardless of whether an individual is symptomatic. 

Issues With PCR Tests

Despite the high level of accuracy provided with PCR tests, they do present certain issues. First, they are not as widely accessible as antigen tests because they need to be checked in lab conditions. This means that they can not be completed at home. 

Another issue with PCR tests is that they are more expensive and can only provide a result for a certain point in time. This means that you could test positive for a PCR test and be negative the next day. This is due to the fact that they can provide a positive result if you are still carrying fragments of the virus but are no longer contagious. 

PCR tests also take a little longer to deliver a result. On average, it will take 24 hours to get a result back from a completed PCR test. 

Antigen Tests


Benefits Of Antigen Tests

There are several benefits of using an antigen test to check whether an individual has COVID-19. First, it provides far more rapid results. On average, an antigen test will provide a result within minutes rather than hours or even days. This means that an individual is able to quickly know whether they are likely to have the virus and can act accordingly. 

Another clear benefit is that they are more accessible and portable. Antigen tests can be completed in the comfort of your home. This means that if you are carrying the virus, you are less likely to come in contact with anyone when completing a test like this. Furthermore, since they are more accessible, it is easier to test anyone regardless of age or issues with mobility. 

These tests were also favored by governments and healthcare practices because they are less expensive. As such, it was easier to spread them more widely through the population. They could be provided to individuals for free although as a higher percentage of the population have become vaccinated more companies have begun selling these tests for a profit. 

Finally, Antigen tests also do not require a specialist or a lab. This means that they can be used in various locations to avoid the spread of COVID-19 including theme parks, airports and other crowded locations. 

 

Cons Of Antigen Tests

There are issues with using antigen tests to check for COVID-19. First, they are not comparable in terms of accuracy against the results of a PCR test. Reports suggest that antigen tests correctly identified those with COVID-19 78.9% of the time. As well as this, the tests correctly identified people that were negative 97.1% of the time. 

As well as providing a lower level of accuracy to PCR tests, this also means it is more likely that an antigen test will provide a false negative compared with a false positive. 

Another issue is that tests may be less effective depending on the brand used. One report suggested that a commonly used brand could accurately display a positive test 54.9% of the time compared to another brand that provided an accurate result just 45.8% of the time. 

It’s clear then that while antigen tests are more accessible and easier to use PCR tests provide far more accurate results. This is why governments and medical professionals recommend a multi-pronged approach to test that includes both antigen tests and PCR testing.