ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / COVID-19 testing is a relatively straightforward process that tends to only take a few minutes to complete. However, getting tested for COVID-19 can certainly be a source of anxiety if you aren't sure what to expect. To help you go into your COVID-19 testing appointment confident and prepared, we'll take a look at advice from COVID-19 testing expert John Berberian on what to expect from the process.
Dr.John Berberian says that the COVID-19 testing process starts with finding a testing location in your area. Almost all clinics and health centers offer COVID-19 testing, as do a number of select pharmacies. Once you arrive at a COVID-19 testing center for your appointment, a healthcare professional will insert a sterile swab into your nasal cavity until it reaches the point where your nasal passage connects to your throat. The swab will then need to be left there for a few seconds in order to absorb secretions. Once a sample has been collected, it is then taken to the lab and tested using a technique known as an RT-PCR. This testing procedure is able to detect if there is any presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for causing COVID-19.
According to Dr. John Berberian, you will want to be prepared for a somewhat uncomfortable experience during COVID-19 testing. Since the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for causing COVID-19 tends to reside deep within the nasal passages, the swab used to collect a sample for testing needs to be inserted quite deep, which can often be a little painful. However, John Berberian points out that how uncomfortable COVID-19 testing ends up ultimately depending on the type of swab that is used.
For COVID-19 testing, NPS swabs are a much better option than traditional cotton swabs since they are thinner and designed to penetrate deeper inside the nasal cavities. In spite of their deeper penetration, though, NPS swabs are also more comfortable for the patient being tested thanks to their slim profile, non-abrasive surface, and thorough lubrication. Most importantly, though, John Berberian says that NPS swabs are less likely to produce a false-negative result since they are able to more easily reach the deep areas of the nasal cavity where the virus likes to hide.
For now, COVID-19 testing remains a crucial healthcare service and an important element of our fight against the virus. If you have scheduled an appointment for COVID-19 testing, we hope that this article gives you a better idea of what to expect - just be sure to request the use of NPS swabs if you are given the opportunity in order to ensure that your test is both as comfortable and as accurate as possible.
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SOURCE: Dr. John Berberian