{"id":8893,"date":"2025-03-30T19:04:04","date_gmt":"2025-03-30T16:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/?p=8893"},"modified":"2026-04-20T18:54:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T15:54:33","slug":"rapid-test-technology-that-works-to-diagnose-in-15-minutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/rapid-test-technology-that-works-to-diagnose-in-15-minutes\/","title":{"rendered":"Rapid test technology: how 15-minute diagnostics work"},"content":{"rendered":"

What are rapid tests?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Rapid tests are express diagnostic methods that allow you to get a result in 10\u201330 minutes without complex laboratory equipment. Such tests are used to detect infections, antigens, antibodies, inflammatory markers, etc. They are based on immunochromatography<\/strong> or enzyme immunoassay<\/strong> and are read visually or using a special device.<\/p>\n

When used<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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  • \n

    During the initial examination in an outpatient clinic or "on site" (POCT - point-of-care testing)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    For rapid diagnosis of COVID-19, influenza, HIV, pregnancy, streptococcus<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    In emergencies (for example, if a heart attack is suspected - rapid troponin)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    In rural areas, in the field, for mass screening<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Advantages of rapid tests<\/strong><\/h3>\n
      \n
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      Result without laboratory<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Ease of use<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Minimum sample volume (drop of blood, saliva, swab)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Speed - 10\u201320 minutes<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Does not require complex equipment<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      \"Comparison<\/p>\n

      How to prepare<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      For swab tests (PCR, antigen tests):<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      • \n

        Do not eat, drink, or smoke for 1\u20132 hours.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Do not use sprays in the nose\/throat<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        For blood tests (for antibodies, sugar):<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
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          If necessary, take the test on an empty stomach (depends on the type of test)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Do not drink alcohol for 24 hours<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Tell your doctor about the medications you are taking.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          For pregnancy or urine tests (e.g., for drugs, infections):<\/strong><\/p>\n

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          • \n

            Use morning urine<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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            Avoid excessive fluid intake before the test<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Table: Types of rapid tests and what they show<\/strong><\/h3>\n
            \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
            Test type<\/th>\nWhat does it reveal?<\/th>\nSample<\/th>\nResult time<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
            Rapid test for COVID-19<\/td>\nVirus antigens<\/td>\nNasal swab<\/td>\n15\u201320 min<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            Rapid HIV test<\/td>\nAntibodies<\/td>\nBlood from a finger<\/td>\n20 min<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            Pregnancy test<\/td>\nHCG (chorionic gonadotropin)<\/td>\nUrine<\/td>\n5 min<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            Troponin test<\/td>\nCardiac marker (heart attack)<\/td>\nBlood<\/td>\n15 min<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            C-reactive protein (CRP<\/a>)<\/td>\nInflammation<\/td>\nCapillary blood<\/td>\n5\u201310 min<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            Group A streptococcus<\/td>\nThroat infection<\/td>\nThroat swab<\/td>\n5\u201310 min<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

            How accurate are rapid tests?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            According to FDA<\/strong> and WHO<\/strong>, the accuracy of rapid diagnostics depends on the type of test:<\/p>\n

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            • \n

              Antigen tests<\/strong> have high specificity but lower sensitivity (70\u201390%)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              Antibody tests<\/strong> work best after 7\u201314 days from the onset of the illness<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Pregnancy tests<\/strong> have an accuracy of more than 99% when used correctly<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Therefore, in case of doubtful or negative results with the presence of symptoms, it is recommended to undergo laboratory confirmation.<\/p>\n

              Rapid test technology is the key to affordable and timely diagnostics. The main thing is to know when and how to use them, and not to forget: the result does not replace a doctor's consultation.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              What are rapid tests? Rapid tests are express diagnostic methods that allow you to get a result in 10\u201330 minutes without complex laboratory work.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":627,"featured_media":8894,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/627"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8893"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8893\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8894"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}