(HealthNewsDigest.com) – While the COVID-19 pandemic has quickly spread around the world at an alarming pace, the need for quick and reliable testing has become a priority for most people. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, has proven to be an enigma in many ways. However, advancements in testing have gradually taken much of the mystery away from it. Because of the impact that this virus has had on the world, the collective effort to develop and distribute tests for the world’s population has taken place at an unprecedented speed. The following timeline of events serves as a reminder of just how far we’ve come in terms of testing since the COVID-19 pandemic first started.
Early Coronavirus Testing
In January 2020, when the first cases of COVID-19 began to show up outside of China, testing was not widely available yet. The pandemic itself was still in its early stages, and experts still didn’t have an official name for the virus as it was still being called the “novel coronavirus” at this time. There was much confusion about testing during this period because some tests were being reported as faulty, and most people didn’t know where to go to get a test if they wanted one. Tests at this time were mostly nasal or oral tests in which a cotton swab was inserted into a person’s nasal cavity or throat to collect a sample. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had a way to test the virus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, but labs were required to send samples to them to be tested. During this time, it was normal for patients to wait in quarantine for their results to return, which could take several days.
Commercial Testing Becomes Available
By March, commercial testing became available. While testing was still limited in many countries, commercial testing meant that labs could now do testing themselves without having to send in samples to other organizations. This meant that patients could receive their test results much more quickly without having to wait for them to be shipped anywhere. Many people could now go to hospitals and get test results read to them at the same place where they’d receive care if the test came back as positive. Tests at this time were mostly PCR tests, which meant that it was able to detect the virus during an infection as long as a person had enough of the virus built up within their system. These tests were not able to determine if a person had been infected in the past if they weren’t currently infected. They also weren’t able to detect an infection if the virus hadn’t had enough time to build up within a person’s system to detectable levels yet.
Antibody Tests Hit the Market
Between April and August, blood tests that detect antibodies to the virus became available at many hospitals, clinics, and commercial labs. This was a game-changer because these tests have the ability to tell if somebody has been infected with the virus in the past. When a person becomes infected with a virus, their body’s immune system begins to produce proteins known as antibodies that effectively try to attack and neutralize infection. While PCR tests are more reliable at detecting a current infection after an initial window period, these new antibody tests proved to be very useful. For many people, it allowed them to see if they had previously been infected even if they were not currently infected.
Home Testing Breakthrough
Finally, testing improvements over the previous months led to home testing availability. People can now test themselves at home for the virus, which causes COVID-19. People no longer have to worry about visiting a hospital or clinic where they may come in contact with others who are infected when they can now simply take an at-home Covid test. The arrival of home testing has been a major breakthrough because it not only offers convenience and safety but also helps to reduce the number of infections happening when people visit public facilities for testing. Looking back on how far testing for COVID-19 has come in such a short timeframe, it’s clear that those who develop tests have risen up to meet the demands of the world.