First, let’s clarify the terms first
COVID-19-coronavirus disease 2019. This is the disease.
SARS-CoV-2-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. This is the COVID-19. virus that is called 2019-COV.
There are two tests used to know if a person has COVID-19
- Rapid diagnostic test (𝗥𝗗𝗧)
- 𝗣𝗖𝗥 (polymerase chain reaction) or swab test
𝗔𝗡𝗢 𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗜𝗗 𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗚𝗡𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧?
When a foreign body or antigens enter the body, the body makes a fight against it called antibodies or immunoglobulins (IG). There are different antibodies for different antigens. In RAPID TEST, blood tests if there are antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. It doesn’t directly see if there is a virus.
Two antibodies are being looked at in RDT, Immunoglobulin M (igM)) green line in graph graph and Immunoglobulin G (IGG)) red]. IgM is the first to go out but it’s also missing. IGG last come but long term.
Four can be the result
- IgM+ & IgG-
- IgM- & IgG+
- IgM+ & IgG+
- IgM- & IgG-
𝗜𝗴𝗠 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘, 𝗜𝗴𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘
When you are positive in IGM, it means you are infected and infectious. You have SARS-CoV-2 and you can be infected.
What to do?
- Confirmatory test (PCR)
- Isolate for 2 weeks
- Trace your close contacts in the last 2 weeks because you can infect them. They should be tested too.
- Report your test results to your LGU
Is this dangerous?
Not at all. Only a few of those who are posturing IGM will have symptoms. To those who have symptoms, only few need to be hospitalized. And to those who have been hospitalized, most recover.
𝗜𝗴𝗠 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘, 𝗜𝗴𝗚 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘
This is the one with (igM) but (IGG) is there too. If you are positive on IGM and IGG, it means you are starting to make long-term antibodies but the infection is not yet over and you are still contagious. If your result is like this, the recommendation is also like the IGM +/ IGG-above.
𝗜𝗴𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘, 𝗜𝗴𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘
There are two situations when you are negative in IGM and IGG. First, you don’t have virus. But it doesn’t mean you won’t have anymore. There are two, but it’s still early and your body hasn’t done any antibodies yet detected by RDT. In both cases, they will do the same. Those are still precautions like wearing face mask, hand washing, physical distancing, etc. You can repeat the test after 7-14 days.
𝗔𝗡𝗢 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗖𝗥?
In PCR, we are looking for the genetic material (RNA, blue line in the graph) of SARS-CoV-2. If in RDT, antibodies are only being looked for, in PCR the virus itself. This is the swab test. We are taking a sample in the nasopharyngeal area (in the throat behind the nose). Positive or negative is the result here.
Pag positive, same recommendation pag IgM+ except the confirmatory test.
𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥
The result of your test is based on your status when you were tested. It doesn’t mean that you are negative in the test, you are negative forever. You can still be infected and postive when you are not careful. Same to those who are positive on IGG (immune), we don’t know until where your immunity will last. Still need to be careful.
Sa ngayon ay hindi pa rin bumababa ang daily confirmed cases natin. Wear your mask when interacting with people or when in the same space with them, sanitize hands regularly, maintain physical distancing. Protect yourself to protect others.
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