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The COVID-19 antibody test looks for information about whether a person had contracted the coronavirus in the past. The results are determined by looking for evidence of the presence of antibodies in the blood, which would specify the immune system’s response to the virus.

Today, we’ll look at the pros and cons of the COVID-19 antibody test.

The Pros of Antibody Test

A significant advantage of undergoing an antibody test is that it determines whether a person’s immune system has built antibodies and is capable of fighting the virus. If antibodies are present inside an individual, this gives them immunity and a certain amount of protection against the coronavirus, although the specifics are waiting to be researched.

Another benefit is that the antibody test usually produces results within minutes and can identify positive cases faster than the PCR test, which takes about 48 hours or more.

Furthermore, the test is performed on a blood sample which can be collected using a small finger prick. This is quicker and more efficient than undergoing a nasal or throat swab for the PCR test, which some people find extremely uncomfortable and sometimes even painful.

Since antibody tests require just a few drops of blood, individuals can perform the test themselves and get quicker results than going to a testing center and waiting for a few days.

This rapid testing method and the availability of high-quality antibody test kits will allow for more widespread testing in the United States and expand the capacity for COVID-19 testing throughout the whole country, without limiting it to people who can physically travel to testing centers.

The Cons of Antibody Test

One problem with the antibody test is that it’s difficult to decide when the test should be conducted, and this affects the accuracy of the test results. In normal circumstances, the antibody test should be performed at least 14 days after the first symptoms of the virus start showing.

However, the COVID-19 virus doesn’t always produce symptoms in every person who is infected. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, in standard cases, antibodies can be detected in some people within the first seven days of the onset of the infection.

But if a person is asymptomatic, meaning they are not experiencing any symptoms of the virus, then it can be challenging to know when they should get tested.

Moreover, according to the American Society for Microbiology, these antibody tests can produce a false-negative result if the test is performed too soon and the antibodies have not developed yet.

In a study conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration or FDA, the antibody tests produce false-negative results at a rate of 15%.

If you want to get a quick COVID test in Miami, get in touch with Good Hearts Testing. We’re an advanced COVID testing facility in Miami. We offer travel PCR tests, COVID travel certificates, antibody tests, at-home COVID testing, antigen tests, in-studio testing, drive-thru testing, and more. Book online and get the results of the COVID test on the same day.

There are a few different types of COVID tests being conducted in America and all around the world, which has caused some confusion in people about the purpose of each test and how they’re different from each other.

Today, we’ll discuss one type of COVID test called the COVID-19 antibody test in detail.

Things to Keep for Your COVID-19 Test

The antibody test helps determine whether an individual has had COVID-19 in the past and if their immune system is now producing the antibodies needed against the virus. Antibodies are proteins that are necessary for fighting the virus and cleaning out the bad or infected cells from the body.

The antibody test is also known as the serology test. It is typically conducted after a person has contracted COVID-19 and has fully recovered from the virus, meaning they have tested negative.

The antibody test is conducted by a medical professional who takes a blood sample, either by drawing a small amount of blood from a vein or by pricking a finger and collecting a few droplets.

If the antibody test shows that a person has antibodies against COVID-19, it means they were infected by the virus at some point in the past. The presence of antibodies means the person is now immune to the coronavirus for some time.

However, more research is being conducted to determine whether immunity against the virus also includes immunity against reinfection with COVID-19, the level of immunity and how much protection it offers, and how long the immunity will last.

When to Conduct an Antibody Test?

Antibody testing is usually recommended after a minimum of 14 days have passed from the day the symptoms of the virus first started to show. The timing of the test is vital to ensure that the test results are accurate. If the test is done too early during the course of the infection, the immune system might still be building antibodies to fight the virus, so the test might not be able to detect them.

It’s important to use the specific antibody tests which have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or FDA. A significant benefit of antibody testing is that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are eligible to donate plasma, which can help treat other infected patients and boost their immune system’s response to the virus.

What Other Tests Are Available For COVID-19?

There are two other tests available for COVID-19, and they are both different from the antibody test. The first test is the PCR or polymerase chain reaction, a molecular test that detects whether a person has been infected with the virus using fluid collected from either a throat or nasal swab.

The second test is the antigen test which is used to detect specific proteins in the COVID-19 virus. The test is also used to confirm whether a person has contracted the virus, and it can offer results within minutes.

If you’re looking for safe and easy COVID testing in Miami, get in touch with Good Hearts Testing. We offer same-day PCR tests, antigen testing, and COVID antibody test in Miami. Contact us today.

It’s been more than a year since the coronavirus pandemic started. Different types of tests have been introduced, but very few people know what these tests are for. It’s vital that you know the types of available tests and what they’re used for, as this information can help save lives. Here’s a guide to covid testing:

Types of Tests

The tests for the coronavirus can be divided into two categories: diagnostic and antibody tests. The diagnostic test checks if you currently have a live viral infection. The two types of diagnostic tests are the molecular and antigen test. Samples for this test are collected through nasal or throat swab samples. In some cases, saliva samples might be used.

On the other hand, antibody tests identify if you have the antibodies for the coronavirus present in your body. Antibodies are protective proteins produced by the immune system in response to a viral infection. You shouldn’t use an antibody test to check for the presence of a live viral infection, as it’s not the proper test for this.

When to Get Tested

You should take the diagnostic test if you’ve been in contact with someone who’s tested positive for covid. You should also get tested if you’ve been in a high-risk situation where social distancing wasn’t possible such as if you’ve been traveling or have attended a gathering. You should also get tested if your health physician has advised you to or if you have symptoms of covid even after getting the vaccine.

At-Home Test Kits

You can use at-home testing or home collection test. You may or may not need a prescription for them, depending on the test kit. If a prescription is required, you’ll have to answer a few questions online so the healthcare providers can give the prescription and recommend the best test type for your condition.

Types of Samples

Two types of samples are commonly used for diagnostic coronavirus testing: swabs and saliva samples. A swab samples use a Q-tip like instrument to collect a sample from your nose or throat. The saliva sample is collected by spitting into a test tube. A blood sample is needed for an antibody test.

Decoding Test Results

Testing negative on the diagnostic test means you don’t have the SARS-CoV-2, or if the result is positive, you most likely have covid currently. However, keep in mind the possibility of false positives that might render the results inaccurate.

A positive antibody test result means your body has the antibodies for covid present, so you may have contracted the virus a few weeks ago. Even if you test negative on an antibody test, it could mean that you have the virus, but your body takes at most 3 weeks to produce the antibodies.

Currently, medical facilities require approval from an authorized physician to qualify for the covid-19 vaccine. At Good Hearts Testing, we can help you with that! We provide at-home covid testing for ease and convenience. We also offer drive-thru covid testing options for increased safety and convenience.

If you reside in Miami or Los Angeles, you can book your appointment with us online!

Travelling is one activity which can increase your risk of getting covid-19. You are in close contact with others at the airport and on the flight where social distancing isn’t realistically possible. To make traveling safer for you and others, here are some things you can do to be safe and responsible:

Before the Flight

Every type of airline and country has its own set of regulations which you need to follow while traveling. Some countries now require a negative covid test as a necessary travel document that you need to bring along. Before your flight, read up on the regulations of the country you’re traveling to and the airline you’ll be using. Most airlines also require a PCR test— a diagnostic test that uses a nasal swab sample to check if you have a live infection currently.

Getting Tested for Infection

Even if you’re not legally required to get tested, it’s responsible if you do. Make sure to get tested for a live viral infection for covid 1-2 days before your flight. If you test positive, avoid traveling as you’ll most likely be transmitting the virus to others you come in contact with. You should then move to social isolation to protect those around you.

If you’ve tested negative, you can be cleared for travel, but you’ll still need to follow the SOPs: sanitize your hands, practice social distancing and wear a mask at all times. Remember that testing negative doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t have covid, as it might take around 10 days for symptoms to show.

After the Flight

After you’ve reached your destination, you must take the viral test gain within 3-5 days. You should also self-quarantine for up to a week after the test. If you’re unable to take the viral test, you should then self-isolate for around 10 days. Symptoms for covid can take up to two weeks to show, so you should get tested again to confirm if you start experiencing them. Ideally, you should also be avoiding contact with at-risk groups for up to two weeks after your arrival.

Ensuring that you are cautious and following safety measures before, during, and after your flight can help minimize the spread of the virus and protect those you come in contact with against the disease.

If you’re planning to travel and require a travel certificate immediately, the Good Hearts Testing can help! We provide last-minute travel certificates for those who’re short on time. We provide at-home covid testing services and drive-thru covid testing options for increased safety and convenience. You can also get same-day result from our PCR drive-thru testing!

If you reside in Miami or Los Angeles, you can book your appointment with us online! With Good Hearts Testing, you can expect to get quick and accurate covid testing, as we’ve partnered with notable laboratories and use the testing methodology approved by WHO.

Antigen tests are used to check for the presence of a respiratory infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes coronavirus. The FDA has approved the antigen test for use in laboratories as well. Learning more about how to conduct antigen tests and how the test can help is beneficial for health physicians. Here are the requirements needed for antigen tests and the best ways to administer them:

General Aspects

Most types of antigen tests are authorized to be administered at the point of care facilities. The antigen tests are less costly than others tests, and the test results can be received within 15 minutes, which makes this test quick and efficient. However, antigen tests are less accurate than PCR testing. The antigen tests use nasal swabs as samples.

Regulatory Requirements

To ensure the safety of administering physicians and patients during antigen testing, the FDA outlined policies for the use of antigen testing. The FDA oversees in vitro diagnostic devices that include the Q-tip-like instrument used to collect the samples for antigen testing. The devices to be used for the antigen tests and other types of diagnostic and screening tests need to have received a EUA (emergency use authorization) from the FDA or need to be issued under the FDA’s covid-19 testing policies.

In addition to this, the testing facility needs to attain a CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) certificate in order to start testing procedures. The physicians and lab professionals need to follow the CLIA requirements when working under the facility.

Technicalities of Test

The NAATs test is the highest standard of tests to detect viral infection. If the results of antigen tests are inconsistent or suspicious, then a confirmation through a NAAT test might be required. Antigen tests are less sensitive than PCR testing and NAAT, but the margin doesn’t deem the antigen test unreliable.

False positives can also likely occur in antigen testing. This is an ordinary situation where in vitro testing is done in communities where infected cases are few. The rate of false positives also increases where this type of situation is more likely.

Using pretest probability can also help determine the reliability of antigen results. Pretest probability shows how likely the patient is to have the disease based on the general community area. CDC recommends professionals to use a rolling average of the positivity rate of the previous 7-10 days of testing.

The risk of contracting the coronavirus is higher in enclosed and indoor facilities. To decrease this risk of transmission, Good Hearts Testing provides at-home covid testing and antigen testing along with PCR testing for residents in Miami or Los Angeles. We also offer drive-thru covid testing options for increased safety and convenience.

With Good Hearts Testing, you can expect to get quick and accurate covid testing, as we’ve partnered with notable laboratories and use the testing methodology approved by WHO. You can book your appointment with us online!

It’s been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic surfaced, and 2021 brought a glimmer of hope in the form of COVID-19 vaccines. However, there has been a lot of misinformation, myths, and rumors regarding the vaccine, downplaying its effectiveness. Let’s debunk these myths.

Myth #1: The Vaccine Contains a Virus That Makes People Sick

You may experience mild side effects like fatigue, headache, chills, or arm soreness after getting vaccinated. But these aren’t symptoms of you getting sick; these side effects are a sign that your body’s immune system is responding to the vaccine. Some people experience no side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccines.

Let’s put the vaccine’s function into perspective. The first two doses of the two-dose vaccine will accustom your immune system to detect the virus and create antibodies to establish resistance against it.

It’s important to mention here that you may get infected if you’re exposed to the virus before the vaccine has developed immunity in your body.

Myth #2: I’ve Got COVID-19, So I Don’t Need to Get Vaccinated

Our bodies produce antibodies against the virus within fourteen days of exposure. Unfortunately, the doctors don’t know for how long this immunity lasts. What they do know is that your immunity doesn’t last forever. Therefore, if you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 before, it’s best to get vaccinated so that your body can build a stronger immunity and reduce the chances of getting reinfected.

Reinfection is rare, but it can happen, especially after 4 months from the first time you got infected. That’s why you must get vaccinated even if you have recovered from COVID-19.

Myth #3: People Are Dying After Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine

Some people may develop mild COVID-19 symptoms-like side effects after getting the vaccine. These side effects are common and are usually temporary. According to the CDC, out of millions of people, only two to five people may experience extreme allergic reactions to the vaccine, but the CDC has not reported any case of death because of the vaccine yet.

Many people say that coronavirus’s mortality rate is as low as 2%. Therefore, people shouldn’t get vaccinated due to a high survival rate. What they don’t realize is that this low mortality rate is more lethal than the common flu.

Got COVID? Get Tested in Miami

Good Hearts Testing is a COVID-19 testing facility in Miami offering PCR and Antigen testing. We promise same day results for drive-thru COVID test and corporate COVID test. Book an appointment and get accurate covid testing today.

Every year, the influenza virus infects thousands of people throughout the US. This year, the flu epidemic has been more burdensome because of the pandemic.

Flu leads to hundreds of hospitalizations and deaths every year. To combat this, thousands of people get the influenza vaccine. But is it safe to get a flu shot during the pandemic? Yes, here are four reasons why.

Keeps You Healthy

Flu symptoms include cough, body aches, and fever that can prevent a healthy person from going to school, work, or run errands for a week or longer.

The best way to prevent catching the influenza virus is to get a flu shot every year. Influenza vaccination can prevent thousands of flu-related hospital visits and illnesses every year.

According to the CDC, flu vaccination during 2019 and 2020 prevented 3.69 million doctor’s visits, 7.52 million illnesses, and 6,300 influenza-associated deaths.

Beat the Flu Bug

Influenza vaccination can lower the number of times people visit the doctor due to flu. Many research studies show that flu vaccination effectively dilutes the severity of flu among people who get vaccinated and still get infected.

Care for Others

Once you get the flu shot, you are indirectly preventing others (who are older and dealing with various health conditions) around you from getting the flu. Children younger than six months cannot get a flu vaccine, and you protect them too from getting the virus by getting an influenza vaccine.

Help the Doctors

Getting an influenza vaccine in 2021 is crucial because a flu shot can help protect you and those around you, reducing the burden on hospitals during the pandemic.

Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms? Get Tested Today!

Good Hearts Testing is a COVID-19 testing facility in Miami offering Antigen and PCR testing. We provide same day results for drive-thru COVID test and corporate COVID test. Book an appointment and get accurate covid testing.

Here is how you can stay active during quarantine.

What I have learned in the first two weeks of the Omicron outbreak

This update was prepared by Dr. Mario Quiros. Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician

What I have l learned

I just finished working 7 of 8 days in the Emergency Department in Miami, FL and experienced Omicron firsthand. I am writing this update to share what I have learned, hopefully ease some tension, and give readers a realistic expectation of what is to come. Omicron seemed to have hit out of nowhere. We literally went from seeing very little Covid -19 cases at the end of November to being inundated with patients the week of December 13th. All of the sudden several of my friends were getting ill at the same time, nearly all of them vaccinated. At the time it was still felt that the majority of circulating Covid -19 cases were still attributed to Delta, but I knew something different was going on. I have never seen so many completely vaccinated (many with a booster dose), previously infected patients, and patients who had been infected and were also vaccinated become ill in such a short period of time. We knew Omicron was starting to circulate in our communities but the rate it has eclipsed Delta as the dominant strain of Covid-19 in Miami was astonishing. We now know that Omicron makes up over 73% of Covid-19 cases nationwide and over 90% of cases in certain regions. Omicron is likely responsible for 90-95% of Covid-19 cases in Miami-Dade county currently. How is Omicron Different from Delta? Most of my patients have tended to be younger, vaccinated, and/or previously been infected with Covid-19. Typically new waves start in younger healthier populations so we will learn more about how it effects older patients and patient with more co morbidities over the next few weeks. Patients:

Generally had mild symptoms compared to the Delta surge over the summer which hit unvaccinated patients particularly hard. However a large proportion of infected patients were fully vaccinated which we did not see with Delta
Had more upper respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, congestion, sore throat, laryngitis, burning in the chest, and bronchitis
Did not lose their sense of taste and smell like we were seeing commonly with other variants
Had little pulmonary (lung) involvement. Less of our coughing patients had pneumonia on their chest X rays or abnormal breath sounds on exam.
Were much less likely to be hypoxic (low oxygen levels) compared to prior variants.
Omicron patients were more likely to have their asthma exacerbations triggered by their infection Prior strains caused pneumonia at a high rate but normally did not trigger asthma. Omicron has been causing more bronchitis than pneumonia and this bronchial inflammation was triggering patients asthma.
Fatigue, body aches, headaches, fever, and chills all remain common symptoms.

The Good News:

This is the mildest strain of Covid-19 I have treated to date. So far I have seen less critically ill patients, admitted less patients to the hospital, and far less patients have required supplemental oxygen or any form of ventilatory support.
We have more tools than ever before to prevent severe disease in the form of Vaccines that prevent severe illness and Monoclonal antibody therapy to treat patients once they become ill.
I think this is going to burn through fairly quickly. Most Delta surges lasted 6-8 weeks. Based on the rate of infection this will probably spread very quickly but hopefully burn through very quickly as well, likely in 2-8 weeks

The Bad News: 1. Omicron appears to be much more contagious than previous strains and seems very effective at evading immunity provided by vaccination. Recent data suggests 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine is 33% effective at preventing infection compared to the unvaccinated. The protection against hospitalization is 70% compared to being unvaccinated. These numbers are significantly down from what we saw with prior variants, both these numbers were well over 90% previously. Booster doses are recommended at this time to to decrease the chance of infection and severe disease. The exact efficacy is unclear as I have seen conflicting data on 3 dose vaccine efficacy and this is something we are still learning about on a daily basis. The CEO of Pfizer claims 3 doses of Pfizer provides similar immunity to Omicron that 2 doses of Pfizer provided to the original Covid strain. From what I have seen clinically to date this does not correlate but we need more data to know for sure. 2. The timing is terrible, right before the Holidays. When you combine this with how contagious Omicron is and many patients having mild symptoms the chance for widespread transmission is very high. I feel we are only going to learn about the severity of this strain on the high risk population in the next few weeks. Unlike Delta, we are likely to see widespread disease in the elderly population and in patients with more co morbidities as Omicron is very effective at evading immunity provided by the vaccine. We can only hope the symptoms are mild similar to what I have seen in the younger and healthier population. Only time will tell. In the mean time my advice is to practice an abundance of caution for those around you who would be considered high risk from a Covid-19 infection. This disease has humbled us all and I think prudence is the wisest course of action this Holiday Season.

What is a PCR test?

In biological terms, a Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is used to amplify and detect genetic material present in a person’s saliva or nasal sample. Compared to other genetic amplification techniques, a PCR test is less time-consuming but effective.

The two most important genetic molecules detected using a PCR test are known as Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and Ribonucleic Acid (RNA). While many traditional genetic sequence detection tools are available in the market, a PCR test is found more effective, especially for detecting COVID-19.

The “RT” in RT-PCR tests stands for Reverse Transcription. When performing a lab procedure on RT-PCR samples, a nasopharyngeal sample is added to the test-tube. This substance develops numerous copies of the viral RNA that may be present in the sample.

Excess copies of a viral RNA results in a positive result. The RT-PCR tests is designed to prime and probe genetic molecules in a sample. An RT-PCR test also allows lab workers to get a clearer picture of the exact intensity of COVID-19 molecules.

Viruses such as the SARS-CoV-2 are RNA based. They can only be detected in a sample if there’s adequate infiltration of healthy cells. Once the virus comes in contact with healthy cells, it multiplies. COVID-19 can reprogram the cellular composition inside the human body and spread by copying viral RNA particles within seconds.

PCR tests are conducted to detect the presence of a viral RNA molecule. This genetic substance can be detected inside a human body before the Coronavirus has entered it. Therefore, detecting a viral RNA is a good way to tell whether someone has already been affected by the disease. This type of test is considered the gold standard in the times of Coronavirus.

The Sars-COV-2 is not simple RNA-virus. It’s constantly mutating and nullifying the test results obtained from traditional techniques. This is where the PCR comes into play.

The best part about a PCR test is that it can be conducted at home, in your car, at a laboratory, or clinics. Its turnaround time usually varies from one to three days. Early on, when the pandemic was at its prime, people faced extreme delays in results due to high demand.

What is a Real Time RT–PCR?

With rapid advances in the COVID-19 testing practices, medical researchers developed a real time RT-PCR test. The main difference between a traditional and real time PCR is that the latter is a nuclear-derived process. It detects the presence of a specific genetic molecule. The real time RT-PCR test identifies viral molecules in any kind of infectious pathogen.

This method was originally used to create markers for radioactive particles in the genetic materials. Now it has been refined to detect more complex viral RNAs. The real time RT-PCR test proved extremely effective in checking the current progress of Coronavirus inside an infected person.

The testing kits for real time RT–PCR were initially not accessible to general public. It was limited to healthcare workers and people employed at more vulnerable places. Many countries have used this test to detect complicated diseases like the Ebola virus and Zika virus. Thanks to mass production facilities, it’s being adopted for rapid COVID-19 detection at a national capacity.

Why Use Real Time PCR Test?

The real time RT-PCR test is more time-effective than traditional PCR test. It can provide prompt results with three hours of sample collection, allowing people to isolate if they’re COVID-19 positive. Ultimately, this leads to lower spread rate.

Along with the progression in health diagnosis, nucleic acid based COVID-19 detection techniques have become a rapid and reliable technology. It also has a lower potential of showing false positives and negatives. Since quick genetic mutation has been noticed in novel Coronavirus, the real time RT-PCR targets multiple genes to eliminate invalid results.

However, a real time PCR test can’t detect past infections. This is very important to monitor the development of virus in a community or a group of people. It can also help healthcare workers track and curb Coronavirus cases.

When to Get Tested for COVID-19?

Now that you understand the key differences between the traditional and real time PCR tests, here’s a list of all the signs that indicate you need to get tested for COVID-19 ASAP:

If you have one or more Coronavirus symptoms before or after the vaccination
If you’ve been in close contact with an infected person for over fifteen minutes
If you’ve participated in activities that might’ve put you at a risk of catching the virus
If you’re experiencing flu and fever like symptoms after a travel trip, an event, or a public gathering

For organizations, we strongly recommend a well-managed and controlled screening program. This shall include symptom tracking, rapid COVID testing, and implementation of standard SOPs before and after vaccinations.

You can contact us at Good Hearts Testing for reliable COVID-19 testing today.

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