The antigen test detects the presence of antigens for SARS-CoV-2 in nasal and/or throat mucus. Antigens are pieces of the virus (proteins) that can produce an immune response in the body.

If you are carrying the virus, the antigen test will quickly show that result – usually about fifteen minutes after applying the sample to the test set. The test can also be used outside a laboratory setting.

The antigen test is less sensitive than the PCR test. Especially if virus levels are low, the antigen test will often give a negative result. At the very beginning of the infection, virus levels in the body are still low, but it is still possible for the person to test positive after that. Virus levels decrease again later in the infection, and the person will no longer be contagious by that point. In that case, a person may wrongly get a negative test result, even if they may still have COVID-19, or had it in the past.

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