![]() So the FDA does not recommend combining tests at home until more research is done.Perform repeat, or serial testing following a negative result on any at-home COVID-19 antigen test, whether or not you have symptoms. ![]() And the pH of the mouth is naturally more acidic than the nose. In fact, even drinking acidic juices or soda close to when you collect a sample can affect the result of a rapid test. Research shows that when the pH of the sample changes, a rapid COVID test can produce a false-positive result. And this is related to the pH of a saliva sample. But solid, scientific research about these claims is still in the works.Ĭurrently, rapid home tests in the U.S. There have been multiple social media stories of people who test positive on a throat swab after a negative result from a nasal swab. And this is mostly based on personal accounts. There’s limited evidence that supports combining throat and nasal swabs with rapid tests. Is there evidence that supports combining different COVID tests? At this time, if testing at home, it’s best to use a nasal swab. And if done incorrectly, the result may not be accurate. But this study was done before the Omicron variant.Īgain, throat swabs are more difficult to collect. Another study found that PCR throat swabs were just slightly better than nasal swabs in detecting the virus. So the results may not apply to home testing because these tests work differently. But this study looked at PCR tests, not rapid tests that are done at home. One study suggests that saliva swabs may be more accurate to detect the Omicron variant when compared to nasal swabs. But again, the research is still in progress. So a throat swab may be more likely to find it. For example, the Omicron variant tends to stay in the upper respiratory tract, rather than travel to the lower respiratory tract or lungs. ![]() There’s ongoing research to find the most accurate way to test for COVID. throat swabs: Which COVID test is more accurate ? Location: Since a nasal swab gets a sample from your nose, it won't pick up a virus that's only in the throat. So the results are more trustworthy.ĭiscomfort: Many people find swabbing their nose uncomfortable. Recommended: The FDA recommends swabbing your nose with home COVID tests (not your throat).īetter accuracy: Home tests were designed to be used in the nose. What are the pros and cons of a nasal swab COVID test? This type of sample should only be collected by a healthcare provider. The FDA recommends against swabbing your throat with the current home COVID tests for the reasons above. This can be hard to do, especially if you have a strong gag reflex. So it is not known if they will work correctly with a throat swab sample.ĭifficulty getting a good sample: Getting a good throat swab sample means swabbing the back of your throat thoroughly for a few seconds. This means that the tests have not been verified with throat swabbing. Uncertain accuracy of results: Current at-home COVID tests are only valid with a nasal swab. Location: If a particular variant is more concentrated in someone’s throat, swabbing there could have a higher chance of a positive test. What are the pros and cons of a throat swab COVID test?Ĭomfort: For some people, it’s more comfortable to swab their throat than their nose. are specifically designed for nasal swabs. The rapid antigen tests that most people use in the U.S. This is usually done by spitting into a tube to collect a saliva specimen. Saliva samples use saliva to test for the COVID virus. Usually a medical provider performs this swab. Nasopharyngeal swabs go deeper into the nose and collect a sample from the back of the nose or back of the throat. Throat swabs (oropharyngeal swabs) collect a sample from the back of the throat by going through the mouth. Nasal swabs are generally self-administered, either in your home or at testing sites that let you swab yourself. There are different ways to test for COVID: And many tests are designed to collect from only one location. Each collection method checks for the virus that causes COVID in a different location of the upper respiratory tract (nose, throat, and mouth). The key difference between nasal and throat swabs is the bodily fluid that the tests collect. What’s the difference between nasal and throat swab COVID tests? We’ll discuss the differences between COVID tests and what the current evidence says about combined nasal and throat testing. Is a nasal swab good enough, or is it more accurate to swab the throat? Or is it better to combine nasal and throat swabs? The answer is a bit complicated. This led to questions about the best way to perform rapid at-home tests for COVID. When the Omicron variant emerged, researchers found that it was more concentrated in the mouth and upper respiratory tract than other variants.
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