The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly changed the way we live. From traveling abroad to things as simple as getting a haircut, we now have to make various adjustments to our daily routines.

While dangerous, this disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus can actually be prevented from spreading. One way to do this, other than obeying health protocols, is by getting tested.

At present, there are four types of COVID-19 tests available in Malaysia:

Naturally, it can sometimes be confusing to tell these four types of tests apart. If you’ve been wondering which test you should take, let us take you through a quick COVID-19 test comparison.

The rapid testing method that is currently commonly used in Malaysia is a type of antibody test that’s mainly used for epidemiological research.

Antibody tests, also known as serology tests, are used to detect certain antibodies in your blood. These antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to fight an infection from a virus or bacteria.

From the presence of certain antibodies within an individual, healthcare workers are able to deduct whether or not an infection has taken place in the past.

The COVID-19 rapid antibody test detects two antibodies:

How it works:

According to the COVID-19 Task Force, if your test comes up as reactive, you will be required to do an RT-PCR test at a lab or a hospital.

If the test is non-reactive, you will be required to do another rapid antibody test in 10 days to confirm the results. This is because IgG and IgM antibodies can take several days or weeks to develop, so taking the test again after 10 days will give you more accurate test results.

In Malaysia, the rapid antibody test remains one of the most affordable and widely available tests and mainly serves as an initial screening to decide whether further testing is needed.

However, the false negative rate is higher and results may vary greatly depending on which test kit is used, so make sure you get it from a trusted hospital or clinic.

When to take: For this type of test, the best time to take it is about 7 days or more after exposure, as there would already be enough antibodies in the sample.

Another test available for COVID-19 testing is the rapid antigen test.

Also known as the rapid swab test, this diagnostic test detects the presence of an antigen — a protein on the surface of a virus that triggers your immune system to produce antibodies against it.

The result will directly show if you have an active virus infection or not.

How it works:

Disclaimer: This process may vary depending on the type of test kit used.

The sample collection process takes only a few minutes and results typically come out in an hour.

If you test negative, some providers may recommend you to confirm the result by taking an RT-PCR test or wait for 10 days to take a rapid antibody test.

However, while positive results are highly accurate, there’s still a considerable chance of false negatives. As such, negative test results must still be confirmed with an RT-PCR test.

When to take: Antigen levels in samples collected more than 5 days after the onset of symptoms may drop below what the test kit can detect, so it’s best to take the test as soon as you show COVID-19 symptoms.

Like the rapid antibody test, the ECLIA test is another type of antibody or serology test that is used to detect the presence of IgG and IgM in an individual.

ECLIA is a lab-based test which involves an autoanalyzer machine and software to perform the sample analysis.

The sample collection process takes approximately 10 – 15 minutes and you can get your result 1 or 2 days after taking the test.

How it works:

Reactive test results mean that you may have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 at some time in the past and should take an RT-PCR test.

Compared to the rapid antibody test, the ECLIA test is claimed to be more sensitive because it can detect antibodies in lower levels.

This test also falls in the same price range as the rapid antibody test, making it relatively affordable to many. However, ECLIA test results are not currently listed as eligible for travel requirements.

If you’re planning to travel out of town, a rapid or RT-PCR test is a more suitable option.

When to take: Because antibodies take time to develop, this type of test is more accurate if done at least 7 days after exposure to the virus.

The real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test is a type of molecular test — tests that directly analyze the presence of a foreign genetic material within your system.

There are two kinds of genetic materials:

In some viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the genetic information is encoded in the RNA rather than DNA.

Using real-time RT-PCR, scientists convert the RNA found in your sample into DNA in a lab. They will then amplify these DNA to detect traces of the virus’s genetic material.

How it works:

Due to its high sensitivity, the RT-PCR test is the gold standard for detecting active SARS-Cov-2 infections.

However, although the sample collection itself only takes 5 – 10 minutes, you may need to wait up to a week for the results, as samples need to be sent to a lab with adequate processing facilities.

Since the technology required to perform this test is costly and has to be imported, the RT-PCR is also quite expensive.

When to take: It is worth noting that the concentration of the virus may be too low for detection if you're newly infected, so the best time to test is 5 – 7 days after exposure to the virus.

What can the test results be used for?

In order to inhibit the spread of COVID-19 in Malaysia, there are various new regulations in place that affect how we do certain activities.

Here are some that require you to present proof that you are healthy and free from COVID-19:

Malaysian authorities have further extended stricter rules, known as movement control orders (MCO), in all parts of the country.

Under MCO, officials urge residents to stay at home, with only two people per household authorized to leave their residences to buy essential goods.

Residents must not travel more than 10 km (6 miles) from their homes. Nonessential inter-state and inter-district travel is banned.

State governments may impose additional statewide restrictions on top of those mandated by the central authorities.

Some states like Sarawak State require arrivals, including those from other parts of Malaysia, to present a negative result from a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test taken within 72 hours before entry.

And you are recommended to get tested if you:

If you need test results for any of the activities mentioned above or are experiencing symptoms commonly associated with COVID-19 — excessive coughing, flu, sore throat, or difficulty breathing — call your nearest hospital or clinic and get yourself tested.

You can also check COVID-19 tests available in your city on Traveloka Xperience.

Different venues may have different reservation procedures, types of services, and process times, so make sure you choose the one that best suits your needs.

The price for all test kits for COVID-19 in Malaysia can differ for several reasons. Some are cheaper than others. It depends on the health providers and areas. As such, where you are going to take your test and how will affect the price.

For the sake of simplicity, let’s take the Doctor on Call price list as an example.

For COVID-19 RT-PCR, the options vary because they have different perks to it.

For COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Testing (RTK-Ag), it is definitely the cheapest and easiest to conduct. You don’t even have to wait that long to get the results.