What is the difference between a coronavirus PCR test and an antibody test?

While viral RNA (i.e. the genetic material of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2), can be detected shortly after infection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the immune system only forms antibodies against the virus after a few days or even weeks.

Antibody-based tests on the other hand, offer the great advantage that an infection can be detected even if it is no longer active or the patient has had an asymptomatic course of the disease. The basis of the test is a blood sample, which should be taken by a healthcare professional. The most reliable antibody-based detection currently available is the ELISA method.

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