Cabot Lab

Are you in need of a COVID-19 test but aren’t sure which one to take?

There are two kinds you can receive: PCR or antigen.

PCR stands for “polymerase chain reaction” and is used to identify viral RNA. Once in a lab, the genetic material is amplified to detect even the smallest amount of coronavirus genes in the sample. The PCR process is repeated many times in a lab machine, so it can take over 24 hours to receive results. This allows for the most accuracy and leaves little to no room for a false result.

Rapid tests, or antigen tests, look for specific proteins on the coronavirus's surface. These only take 10-15 minutes to receive results and can even be done at home. However, because they do not amplify what they are looking for, antigen tests require a high amount of the virus to be present for accurate results.

Cabot Lab utilizes best-in-class rapid antigen testing kits with a higher efficacy of ~85% versus other testing solutions. Since the rapid tests have an accuracy rate of about ~85%, we strongly suggest taking both the PCR and rapid tests.

For more information on our testing, visit our website for details https://buff.ly/3OciwSY