COVID Tests | Aster Labs

COVID Tests Overview

COVID-19 is a viral infectious disease caused by the SarS CoV 2 virus. It is the disease that caused the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. While most of the world is now vaccinated against this disease, it doesn’t mean the disease doesn’t affect people anymore. COVID tests are still regularly required to understand the underlying cause of flu symptoms in patients. They are also required as travel documents to ensure a patient is not COVID-positive before travelling abroad. In cases of positive COVID test results, doctors prescribe a thorough treatment plan to patients. COVID-19 testing can be done through various tests ranging from RT PCR tests to blood tests.

Why Are COVID Tests Prescribed?

COVID tests work both for diagnosing symptoms and by screening COVID as a possible condition for presented flu symptoms. The COVID antigen tests can be undertaken voluntarily as well because they may be required as a travel document, especially if you are visiting abroad. The presence of the SarS CoV 2 virus in your body is detected using these tests. Based on the test results, doctors offer a dedicated treatment plan to help manage the symptoms. Even in cases of negative results, the tests are crucial as they help rule out COVID as a cause of the presented symptoms.

How Are COVID Tests Performed?

You can avail of both an RT PCR COVID test as well as a COVID blood test based on the type of test prescribed. For RT PCR tests, the process involves inserting a swab into the nasal cavity and collecting a respiratory sample to be sent for testing. For blood tests, the tests are performed using a sterilised syringe, which is inserted into the veins in the patient’s forearm to draw blood. Both these testing methods provide accurate COVID-19 screening, and the different tests are ordered only based on medical requirements.

Home Sample Collection

COVID infections are highly contagious and patients are requested to stay home during an infection, in most cases. To help our patients maintain the quarantine requirements, we offer a home sample collection service for all our COVID antigen tests. Patients can easily book a COVID test at home using our website or opt for home sample collection after test booking by calling their home centre.

Home Sample Collection

COVID infections are highly contagious and patients are requested to stay home during an infection, in most cases. To help our patients maintain the quarantine requirements, we offer a home sample collection service for all our COVID antigen tests. Patients can easily book a COVID test at home using our website or opt for home sample collection after test booking by calling their home centre.

How To Prepare for COVID Tests?

COVID-19 tests generally do not have any specific prerequisites. If you are concerned about your symptoms like losing the sense of taste and smell, weakness, fatigue, and high fever with respiratory problems, be sure to check with your doctor before the test. You can also call our centre and talk to Aster personnel to learn more about the prerequisites for a COVID test.

What Do COVID Test Results Mean?

COVID test results presented as either positive or negative. The connotations of each result are as the names state. Based on the test results, doctors recommend a treatment course for positive test results. Similarly, a negative COVID-19 testing report may mean you don’t have the disease. However, doctors may require you to retake the COVID antigen test again to confirm.