Covid Testing – Explained

When announcing its tie up with Singapore Airlines concerning travel from the Island State, Collinson also offered an appendage as a briefing note on Covid-19 testing.  BTN reproduces in full.
(See also Collinson and Singapore Airlines in this week's BTN.)

RT-PCR Testing is the most sensitive test that is currently available, able to detect active infection some days before the patient is infectious or symptomatic. PCR testing takes around five hours to be performed, but as assays sometimes have to be repeated, a turnaround time of 24 hours is often given. PCR testing is performed in machines than cycle through different temperatures. As the process of changing temperature takes some time, the process is longer than other processes such as LAMP.
 
LAMP Testing is another form of genetic test, able to detect the RNA of the virus. It is a more recent development than PCR and is performed all at one temperature. It is generally faster and cheaper than PCR but is not considered to be as sensitive – but is still more sensitive than antigen testing. LAMP tests might be able to detect patients immediately before symptoms are displayed but this is unsure at present. Rapid LAMP testing can add a significant degree of confidence if performed before flying, for example, when all aboard have had a LAMP test prior to departure.
 
Antigen Testing is the fastest and cheapest of all lab tests for Covid-19. Unlike PCR and LAMP, the genetic material of the virus is not searched for, but rather the protein structures on a virally infected cell produced by Covid-19; usually the so-called ‘spike’ protein. Antigen tests often become positive after having had symptoms for a couple of days. Their use is particularly powerful when patients are attending communal events and a quick check needs to be performed to see if attendees are infectious with Covid-19. Also during winter months, when people often have symptoms of the common cold or flu, performing an antigen test will ascertain whether the condition is the coronavirus or not.
 
Serology Testing (or antibody) testing is a blood test that identifies the presence of antibodies manufactured by the body in response to infection by Covid-19. A positive test for IgM antibodies indicates that the patient may have been recently infected and their immune system has started to respond to the virus. This type of test is required for most passengers entering China.

www.collinsongroup.com/en/covid-19-testing

www.singaporeair.com

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

Anne Silver, United Kingdom

Well done BTN for putting up the explanation. I am 65 and am waiting to be called for a jab.

Julie Jones, London

If it is true that Ministers meeting on Monday consider imposing tougher restrictions on people arriving from abroad just how is the travel industry going to react. It’s dying!