MOLECULAR – RAPID – COVID 19
Covid-19 (coronavirus)
PCR – Molecular Test
Viral RNA is isolated. It has high sensitivity (i.e. the test can detect true positive results of a disease) and specificity (the percentage of true negative samples that our test detects as negative). That is, if out of 100 people who truly got COVID-19, the test detects 99 as positive, we say that the test has 99% sensitivity. If out of 100 people who are not affected by COVID-19, the test detects 95 as negative and 5 as positive, the test is said to have 95% specificity. The molecular tests we use in our center currently have the highest sensitivity and specificity available. Generally, in the case of a symptomatic patient who did not do another test, the diagnosis is made with certainty by the Molecular test. The sample is a nasopharyngeal swab (the one we get from the nose).
Rapid Τest
It is used for the immediate detection and isolation of positive individuals and is recommended for epidemiological surveillance of large groups and individuals in crowded conditions (e.g. schools). It has less sensitivity and specificity than virus detection through molecular testing. It is an important tool in stopping the virus transmission since, at low cost and immediately, the positive patient is identified and isolated. The specimen is a nasopharyngeal swab.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Covid-19 (coronavirus)
How is the diagnosis of Covid-19 / SARS-CoV-2 performed?
The diagnosis is performed by carrying out various tests in combination with the clinical picture, taking a detailed history from the patient and performing imaging tests.
Therefore, a visit to your doctor for an examination is a necessary condition for the diagnosis.
Which detection tests are available and which one should I do?
The doctor will decide what kind of diagnostic test you will do.
Post Covid
Covid-19 infection could lead to long-term complications and symptoms that remain even 3 months later, known as Post Covid -9 syndrome, and affects other systems beyond the respiratory.
The most common symptoms are:
Cough
Shortness of breath, dyspnea
Loss of smell, anosmia / Loss of taste, ageusia
Feeling heart palpitations
Chest pain
Abnormal heart rhythm, arrhythmia
Orthostatic hypotension
Hair loss
Sleep disorders
Headaches
Diabetes: development or getting worse
Menstrual disorders
Weight loss
Chronic pains
Thus, patients with symptoms, that have been persistent for 3 months after the infection, should start diagnostic testing.
At our center these tests are carried out based on guidelines and include: