Covid Test
In short
A medical tool used to detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a person's body. It identifies whether someone is currently infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
In plain words
You take a sample from your nose or mouth and put it on a test strip. The test looks for bits of the virus or your body's reaction to it. It tells you if you are sick or contagious.
A simple example
A person feels unwell and uses a rapid antigen test at home. They swab their nose and wait fifteen minutes to see if a coloured line appears on the device.
Why it matters
Testing helps stop the spread of the virus by identifying infected people early. It allows individuals to isolate and helps hospitals manage patient numbers.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse a diagnostic test, which finds the virus, with an antibody test, which looks for past infections.