Usually, it takes a couple of days for the lab to process a PCR test, while you can get your rapid test results in under 30 minutes.

Last week, I was about to go on a date, and because I'm severely immunocompromised, we agreed he would take a COVID test using one of my rapid home PCR tests. It was a courtesy—he felt perfectly fine— ...

A rapid antigen test is a screening tool – it can indicate that you might be infected, but you need a PCR test to confirm the result.

Self-tests, or at-home COVID-19 tests, give instant results that PCR tests taken in a laboratory or medical office might take days to deliver, according to the Centers for Disease Control and ...

If you’re thinking of picking up a home test, here’s what you need to know about how they work, when to use them and what conditions warrant a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or a call to ...

A PCR test is often considered the gold standard for detecting coronavirus infection. It’s the test some employers want employees to take before returning to work after having Covid-19, and the ...

Even with lesser accuracy, you can take multiple rapid tests in the time it would take to get a PCR. And with each test you take, the chance that you miss an infection falls.

Medically reviewed by Kate Colby, MPH People with asymptomatic or mild COVID illness generally test negative after nine days, but a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test can still be positive for up to ...

For any American wondering if they have Covid-19, there are two kinds of tests available: polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid antigen (sometimes just called “rapid tests”). The two tests ...

If you have symptoms or need test results for an event, here's what you need to know about the different COVID-19 tests and their results.

PCR tests, however, are processed in labs and can take 24 to 48 hours to get a result.