How is antigen testing different from antibody testing?

An antigen test looks to see if you currently have the disease by searching for genetic information unique to a particular virus or bacterium. An antibody test only shows whether or not you've had the disease in the past.

An antigen test tells doctors whether you are currently infected or not, but not if you were infected in the past and have since recovered.

An antibody test can take up to two weeks for antibodies to be detectable in your blood -- usually long after the virus has been defeated and an antigen test would come back negative.

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