COVID-19 has affected many livelihoods today, and it is essential to stay alert to the condition. Most symptoms of the condition are common and similar to other health complications. That is why you ought to seek testing anytime you get concerned you might have the disease. The Ham Lake nasal swab specialists can offer you the antigen test for COVID-19 or other tests depending on your unique needs. Here, we focus on the nasal swab to help you understand what it involves and what it means to have negative results.
What a Nasal Swab Involves
During a COVID-19 nasal swab test, your provider inserts a long stick to your nose and twirls it around to collect samples of your secretion. The stick has soft bristles designed like a pipe cleaner to enable the sample collection. Your provider must insert the tube pretty far behind since the fluid and cells need to be collected along the entire passageway connecting the back of your throat and the base of your nose. This ensures they get good specimens which increases the chances of accurate results.
What You Can Expect
Since your body is not used to such an experience of an object getting to the back of your nose, you can expect to experience some odd sensations. It can activate your lacrimal reflex, which means you can experience tears in your eyes. The entire experience is uncomfortable but does not go too far to be said to be painful. Also, you might experience a gag reflex since the rod will go all the way to the back of your throat. Understand that these experiences occur when the test is done correctly.
What to Do When You Think You Need Testing
There are several COVID-19 tests. Some you can test at home. However, understand that your doctor must prescribe a nasal swab. Therefore, contact your provider anytime you need testing or visit the clinic. Never attempt to do the nasal swab yourself or seek it from anyone. Ensure they are qualified and skilled to perform the test to increase your chances of getting accurate results.
Nasal Swab Testing Accuracy
The accuracy of a nasal test depends on several factors like the quality of the sample collected and the clinical lab test used. The most common test involved in the laboratory is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. This is a specific type of nucleic acid test that looks for COVID-19 genetic material traces. The test can detect very small amounts of coronavirus, and the more coronavirus you have, the easier it is to detect. Your provider must ensure they get high-quality specimens by getting the swab as far as necessary. Also, ensure you prepare well for the test to ensure you don’t jerk back during the procedure.
When You Get Negative Results
When your nasal swab comes out negative, your doctor will want to consider your symptoms before making conclusions. They can also recommend further testing based on your needs. Understand that you can have false-negative results if you are in the early stages of the infection.
If you are concerned about your symptoms and think you might have COVID-19, you can only be certain by getting tested. Get in touch with GatherWell nasal swab testing specialists today for your procedure.
