It is an undeniable fact that the pandemic is affecting each and every citizen in our country, and worse yet, all industry sectors of Thailand. We all want to stay safe by reserving the earliest queues for vaccination, and those at risk are trying to get their test results as soon as possible. While the most widely known method of Covid-19 infection test is the “swab” or the so-called “nasal stick test”, there are actually many types of tests available and varied for specific circumstances. Although it’s very easy and quick to book a test with our partners on Traveloka, before you decide, let’s find out which test type is best suited for your timeline and purpose. Let’s see the 3 types of Covid-19 tests and find out their main differences!

The first and the most common type of Covid-19 test is the Real-time PCR nasopharyngeal swab which collects nasal secretions from your nose and the back of the throat to analyze. This method is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the best and is most widely applied since it gives fast and reliable results. Real-time PCR can detect the virus both active and inactive in your system. If the result is positive, it means the patient has the virus in their body, while the negative result suggests that they do not have the virus, but should remain in a 14-day quarantine to observe symptoms especially if they have had contact with the infected. Afterwards, taking the test again is recommended. This is because the virus may still be in the incubation period during the first test, thus can go undetected.

Real-time PCR Tests are available at local hospitals and labs with both options of face-to-face diagnosis or a drive-thru test. Test results are available from 2-3 hours after the test or 24-48 hours depending on several factors.

Expenses: 3,000 - 6,500 THB (varied by hospital)

Good points:High accuracy. Able to detect low traces of Covid-19 genetic materials in several types of samples from nasal secretions, blood, saliva, and fecal matter.

Best for: Any individual, whether at high risk of infection or not. (5 or more days after receiving the virus is best for virus detection due to the incubation period)

The second type Covid-19 test is the Antibody Test which takes a sample of your blood to find IgM, lgA and IgG Antibodies of SARS-CoV-2. The result of the Antibody Test can determine whether the patient’s body has ever been infected or not (Not whether the patient has Covid-19 in their system at the time of the test or not), or can be used alongside other tests to determine infection among patients who never showed any symptoms of Covid-19. The Antibody Test is a good option specifically for these cases, however, it can not identify current infection because it detects only the antibody. The Antibody Test can not determine how long the patient has received the virus and from what source, and is not indicative of whether the antibody in the body can prevent a second infection. In general, for a detailed analysis and diagnosis, it is recommended that those who take the antibody test take the PCR Test again.

Expenses: 200 - 1,500 THB (varied by hospital)

Good points:Can determine whether a patient has had Covid-19 in their system before (Not whether the patient has Covid-19 in their system at the time of the test or not). IgM Antibody gives insight into whether an infected patient needs to be in further quarantine or not, and if IgG Antibody is found in the patient under treatment, doctors can determine whether the patient still needs medical treatment in the hospital.

Best for: Any individual, whether at high risk of infection or not. (10 or more days after receiving the virus or after recovering from the virus is best for antibody detection due to the period required for the body to create an antibody against the virus)

The last type of Covid-19 test is a nasal swab to detect a certain protein in the virus from the patient’s nasal secretion sample. Widely used during the screening and observation period, the Antigen Test divides two groups of individuals.

3.1 Symptomatic Patients: The positive (+) result suggests simply that the patient has Covid-19 in their system and is required to do a quarantine. After the Antigen Test, hospitals usually ask patients who test positive to do a PCR Test again to be certain.

3.2 Asymptomatic Patients : The negative (-) result suggests simply that the patient does not have Covid-19 in their system. However, if the patient has had close contact with the infected or is at high risk of infection, a 14-day quarantine is required in which afterwards the PCR Test is mandatory to confirm the result.

The Antigen Test is used for diagnosis in only some cases. For higher accuracy, either an Antibody Test or the PCR Test is usually required.

Expenses: 500 - 1,200 THB (varied by hospital)

Good points:Can help individuals at risk do a simple first screening with a lower price. Can detect infection quickly due to the simple process of finding the specific protein of the virus.

Best for: Any individual, whether at high risk of infection or not. (5 or more days after receiving the virus is best for virus detection due to the incubation period)

Find hospitals and labs for Covid-19 tests here

A Covid-19 test can be taken any time you want, because if you have concerns of infection, you can go take a test directly at hospitals and labs which provide the service. Furthermore, the Department of Disease Control encourages high-risk individuals of these groups to receive the test as soon as possible:

In conclusion, there are 3 types of Covid-19 tests, which are the PCR Test (nasal swab test), the Antibody Test (detecting the antibody, but not the virus itself), and the Antigen Test (quick nasal swab test). For highest accuracy, medical professionals recommend PCR Test as the standard because it is the most efficient in detecting traces of the virus, and can detect genetic materials of the virus directly from your bodily fluids.