COVID-19 tests are part of the arsenal available to fight the pandemic. Using them properly can save lives!
COVID-19 is not always easy to detect. It is estimated that roughly 15 to 30% of people infected with the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) have no symptoms. However, they can still spread the virus. Additionally, the most common symptoms (cough, fever, headache, muscle aches, chills) are similar to those of other illnesses such as the flu or the common cold. Therefore, it is easy to have COVID-19 without knowing it.
Symptoms usually appear 5 to 7 days after having been infected (in some cases, 2 to 12 days). As a result, an individual can be contagious and spread the virus even before showing symptoms. Testing is the only way to confirm COVID-19 infection with certainty. Obtaining a clear diagnosis makes it possible to choose the appropriate treatment measures, to protect the people around them and to avoid spreading the infection on a larger scale.
Therefore, screening tests help to limit the spread of the virus, and also to determine the number of cases in a given population or area. These tests also contribute to a better understanding of the virus and the pandemic, as well as to help choose the most effective public health measures.
Anyone with signs or symptoms indicative of COVID-19 should be tested at a screening center designated by the government to rule out or confirm the diagnosis. Depending on the status of the pandemic in your province, it is possible that testing at a screening clinic will be reserved for certain populations on a priority basis, such as health care workers. In this case, it is preferable to do a self-test at home that can be obtained at the pharmacy depending on their availability. Check the following links to see the current screening guidelines for your province:
If you have had close contact with an infected person who has tested positive, you should also be tested, even if you have no symptoms. You may receive a call from public health suggesting that you get tested. Testing may also be necessary in other situations, such as when returning from a trip abroad, or before leaving on a trip.
Anyone who tests positive should isolate themselves at home (or in some cases, at the hospital). They must notify all individuals with whom they have had close contact, and these individuals should also be tested, isolate themselves while waiting for the results, and watch for symptoms.
Anyone experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 who is unable to obtain a test should isolate themselves and follow the public health guidelines issued by their province.
There are two main types of screening tests: PCR tests (molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material) and antigenic or "rapid" tests (detection of SARS-CoV-2 proteins).
PCR tests are very sensitive and can detect the presence of the virus and therefore confirm the diagnosis of COVID-19 from the very beginning of the infection. Some of them can also identify the presence of other respiratory microbes, such as influenza. They are currently considered the reference standard. These tests must be analyzed in a designated laboratory, as they require sophisticated equipment and medical expertise.
Some PCR tests involve taking a sample from inside the nose or throat. Others use a saliva specimen (spitting into a tube) or a gargle method, but are less reliable than nasopharyngeal swabs. Results are usually obtained within 24 to 48 hours.
The main advantages of rapid tests are that they are easy to use and provide a result in less than an hour. However, they are less sensitive than PCR tests: their ability to detect small amounts of virus is lower.
The results of rapid tests must therefore be interpreted with more caution to avoid the impression of safety when the person is actually contagious (false negative). That said, the use of rapid tests is useful in several contexts, particularly when a large number of individuals need to be tested, when frequent testing is required, when a rapid result is needed (in an airport, a factory, etc.), or when PCR tests are not available.
When you get tested, you are making a difference in the fight against the pandemic. Who knows... maybe because of you, an outbreak and even deaths will be averted.
Do not hesitate to consult your pharmacist for additional information about COVID-19 testing. To make an appointment for a screening test at a Jean Coutu affiliated pharmacy near you or to reserve a box of self-tests provided by the government, please follow the links below based on your situation:
