With the contagion curve rising dangerously, perhaps the time has come to shed some light. If you’ve asked yourself at least once, find out what’s best between serological test and swab.
There are precise differences between serological test and nasopharyngeal swab. Doing one or the other is not the same thing and the two exams, therefore, are not interchangeable.
What is the difference? Find out what’s best between serological test and swab
The main difference between serological test and swab is all in all simple, but there is still a lot of confusion around the topic.
While theoutcome of the swab tells us if the infection is in progress (and therefore if we are positive or negative for the virus), the serological test (which consists of a blood sample) tells us only if we have developed antibodies to the virus. As a result, we may also be negative on the blood test, but are actually currently positive for the virus.
So, if we are afraid of having been exposed to the virus and want to know if we are currently positive for Covid-19, the best choice is certainly that of the nasopharyngeal swab. If, on the other hand, we want to know if we have contracted it in the past (perhaps we were asymptomatic, or we had symptoms before March) then it is advisable to carry out a serological.
To put it even more simply, if we have had contact with a positive person and want to find out if we have also been infected, we must absolutely perform a nasopharyngeal swab.
We remind you that to carry out the swab you need a prescription from your GP; this obviously in cases where it is not mandatory or required by your ASL. This can be done in a hospital or even in private laboratories, depending on the regulations.
In case you opt for a private solution, you will have to draw from your pocket. This choice is therefore not an option that everyone can afford. In fact, the cost of a tampon can range from 60 to 120 euros. In some cases you may have to spend as much as 200 euros.
