rapid antigen test
Fast infection check
A rapid antigen test detects proteins from a pathogen—most commonly a virus—in a sample taken from the nose or throat.
Unlike PCR tests, which amplify genetic material and require laboratory processing, antigen tests deliver results in minutes and can be performed at home.
They became household items during the COVID-19 pandemic: I took a rapid antigen test before visiting my grandmother.
These tests are less sensitive than PCR, meaning they may miss infections, especially early ones or in people without symptoms.
Horizontal liquid transport
- swabAbsorbent cleaning implement
- nasopharyngealRelating to nose-throat junction
- specimenIndividual for examination
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
specificity · antibody · reagent · biomarker · qualitative · in vitro · false positive · false negative
Spike-ringed viral family
- SARS-CoV-2Pandemic-causing coronavirus species
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
- quarantineIsolation preventing disease transmission
- isolationComplete separation from others
contact tracing · exposure · symptomatic · asymptomatic · viral load · omicron · delta · variant
Buyable without medical authorization
- pharmacyMedicinal dispensary
- drugstoreRetail pharmacy outlet
- minutesSixty-second intervals
- walk-inWithout prior booking
accessible · affordable · immediate · real-time · portable · disposable · single-use · instructions
At the treatment site
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- precautionaryDone to prevent harm
- gatekeepingControlling access to something
- clearancePermitted passage or approval
Measure of ultimate quality
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
- turnaround timeDuration from submission to completion
- cost-effectiveGiving good return cheaply
lateral flow
Horizontal liquid transport
- swabAbsorbent cleaning implement
- nasopharyngealRelating to nose-throat junction
- specimenIndividual for examination
sensitivity · specificity · antibody · reagent · biomarker · qualitative · in vitro · false positive · false negative · nasal swab
coronavirus
Spike-ringed viral family
- SARS-CoV-2Pandemic-causing coronavirus species
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
- quarantineIsolation preventing disease transmission
isolation · contact tracing · exposure · symptomatic · asymptomatic · viral load · omicron · delta · variant · outbreak
over-the-counter
Buyable without medical authorization
walk-in · accessible · affordable · immediate · real-time · portable · disposable · single-use · instructions · timer
point-of-care
At the treatment site
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- precautionaryDone to prevent harm
- gatekeepingControlling access to something
gold standard
Measure of ultimate quality
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
- turnaround timeDuration from submission to completion
cost-effective · trade-off · confirmatory · supplemental · alternative
rapid, rapidity, rapidly, rapids, antigen, antigens, antigenic, test, tested