There’s been much talk about asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic COVID-19 spread. However, these terms differ. Asymptomatic refers to people who test positive for the virus but never show symptoms. Pre-symptomatic people are those who can spread COVID-19 in the time between when they catch it and start showing symptoms.
It’s still unclear how much of COVID-19 spread is by asymptomatic transmission. However, we do know that the incubation period for this virus is 3 to 14 days—though most people show symptoms about 4 or 5 days after being exposed. This is a critical time period because before people show symptoms, they might not know they have the virus and can infect others.
For this reason, fast—but also reliably accurate—tests are so important. Lately we’re seeing a proliferation of rapid tests, which in some cases can give results within 15 minutes. However, these tests are deeply flawed and often inaccurate. A false negative can be even worse than no test at all, because it can make someone feel emboldened to take risks.
Tests like ours at Avalon Laboratory Solutions, which deliver accurate results within 24-48 hours, are key to catching pre-symptomatic cases. Our tests will detect COVID-19 before a person shows symptoms; this ensures that a person who tests positive—and anyone who has been in close contact with them—can quarantine and prevent spread.
Everyone’s availability is different, which is why there is no one-size-fits-all method for COVID-19 testing. At Avalon Lab Solutions, we can schedule you immediately to be tested in two different ways: through drive-in testing at our lab, or an at-home test. In both cases, you’ll receive results within 48 hours.
To find out more information or learn about pricing, email [email protected].