COVID19 testing at MedLabs. Yes, it is different
During this 2020 stand-out year, all we’ve heard about is the COVID-19 virus. Reading this article will help you recap information about COVID-19, which originated from SARS-COV-2 strain “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2”.
What are the symptoms of someone infected with a coronavirus?
COVID-19 generally shares similar symptoms with other corona viruses. However, some people seem to be affected more harshly by the COVID-19 virus than others. Common symptoms include change in or loss of taste or smell, respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, fatigue, body aches, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. Some people also experience mild diarrhea. In more severe cases, infection can leave patients susceptible to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. Most people who develop the more serious symptoms have pre-existing conditions or suffer from immune deficiency.
How long can someone spread the virus that causes COVID-19?
It’s possible for people to spread the virus for about 2 days before experiencing signs or symptoms and remain contagious for at least 10 days after signs or symptoms first appeared. If someone is asymptomatic or if they no longer have symptoms, it’s possible to remain contagious for at least 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19.
When should I get tested?
Testing is advised if you have symptoms similar to those mentioned previously, or after (4 – 5) days of being exposed to an infected person. This timeframe allows the viral load to increase to a detectable level assuming you have contracted the virus. You may repeat it after another 5-7 days if you were tested NEGATIVE in order to be sure that the virus was not in the incubation period.
Molecular Diagnostic Test – PCR
Many companies have developed tests to diagnose COVID-19 based on detection of the virus’s genetic material in a sample taken from a patient’s nose or throat.
No test is 100% accurate all of the time, but at MedLabs we work to minimize any personal error while using kits of the highest sensitivity to detect the virus at its lowest detectable threshold.
The dominant factors that cause a false negative result are:
1. Performing the test too soon, meaning, you may have the virus, but the swab might not collect it from your nose as it’s still in the incubation period in the lowest part of your respiratory system (in the lungs).
2. ‘Pooling’ samples or mixing several samples together to save costs, something MedLabs strictly prohibits and does not apply.
The dominant factors that cause a false positive result are:
1. Cross contamination from poor lab practices. MedLabs has consistently achieved a 100% score on its monthly lab inspections by the Jordanian Ministry of Health while also meeting all requirements of their local and international quality and safety accreditations.
2. With the PCR method, there is a naturally occurring <1% chance of a false negative resulting from the test detecting broken pieces of viral RNA from possible previous infection with COVID-19 or other Corona viruses. This may cause confusion especially for asymptomatic people and is why mass testing on ‘well’ individuals is not generally advised.
The PCR test can’t show if you were infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 in the past and have hence developed a certain level of immunity. For that you need the antibody test. There are generally two antibodies to look for, IgG which if elevated shows past infection and hence immunity to the virus, and IgM which if elevated indicates a current infection that would require confirmation with the PCR test. This test is now approved for use in Jordan by the Ministry of Health & the Jordanian Food & Drug Administration (JFDA) at all MedLabs branches.
How can you get tested at MedLabs & what to expect?
To get tested at MedLabs all you need to do is book a house call appointment by calling 0791100110, or by downloading our app / visiting our website to book a COVID-19 house call or Drive Thru appointment. If you’ve booked a house call, our expert team will come to your doorstep, wear their full PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and collect a sample with a nasal swab. The swab will then be placed in a solution that deactivates the virus to prevent any chance of spread while preserving the genetic material, before taking it to the lab for testing. If you prefer to come to our drive thru location, you can find us in Abdoun beside Fitness First on Sa’ad Abdo Shammout street. As for your results, expect to receive an SMS from MedLabs with a link to your result within 24 hours.
You can also get tested by directly passing by most of MedLabs branches in Jordan (except our location in Hashimi, Wehdat, Tabarbour)
Rest assured that each sample received at MedLabs is uniquely treated with the utmost care to the highest quality standards. MedLabs uses highly sensitive kits with a detection limit from 10 to 100 copies/ml and 100% specificity to COVID-19. This makes MedLabs’ results highly reliable and accurate. Furthermore, when we receive a positive result, our policy is to immediately repeat the test to confirm the result at no extra cost to the patient.
References
FDA.gov
WHO.int
CDC.gov
