OMS Urgent Care now conducts COVID-19 nasal swab rapid (Antigen or PCR) test to check for active COVID-19 virus infection.
Call our office today to schedule an appointment or to answer any questions on COVID -19 nasal swab tests.
Rapid Antigen test with result within 20 minutes. Rapid PCR test with result within 24 hours.
How a COVID-19 nasal swab test is done
The staff conducting the test will insert a long stick with a very soft brush on the end — kind of like a extra long Q-tip — up your nose and twirl it around for a few seconds. The soft head will collect a sample of secretions there for analysis. The swab has to go pretty far back, because cells and fluids must be collected from along the entire passageway that connects the base of the nose to the back of the throat to get a really good specimen.
Concerning COVID-19 nasal swab test
This is not very comfortable but it is better against false positives. The body is not used to having an object in that area, though, so it creates a lot of very odd sensations. For one thing, it activates the lachrymal reflex, since the human body automatically tries to shy away from foreign bodies in the respiratory areas, which means it’ll bring tears to your eyes if it’s done correctly. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it hurt, but again it is uncomfortable. Since the swab will also touch the back of the throat and it may also trigger a gag reflex.
Photo by Mufid Majnun on Unsplash of patient getting a similar COVID-19 nasal swab test
