Covid-19 tests: which one to choose?

It can be stressful and confusing when you are asked to test your crew and employees for Covid-19, depending on how much time you have on your hands and what the situation is.

There are 3 different kind of tests. The most recent advancement in the testing area is the availability of Antigen tests, that yachts can perform for their crew, giving them the answer within 20 mins if any crew has been recently infected by the virus.

These Antigen tests are available at Nice airport since the 5 November 2020. They are free and offered to passengers departing from Nice Airport. More information here. Some doctors, schools and pharmacies are also able to do them.

Antigen Tests:

Antigen tests are also collected through a nasal swab (but the swab does not need to go as far in as a for a PCR test). This test shows if you have an active COVID-19 infection. It will check for specific proteins on the surface of the virus and is usually highly accurate. The test is able to show if you have an active infection within 20 minutes.

Laboratory testing PCR Tests – Lab based only

The laboratory PCR tests are collected through a nasal and throat swab. This test shows if you ever had or were infected with COVID-19. It checks the virus’s genetic material and is highly accurate. The test will show If you have an active coronavirus within 24 to 48 hours. The downside is that you will have to wait for the lab to return the results and its expensive.

Antibody blood test

Antibody tests use a blood droplet from a simple finger prick. This test checks for antibodies made by the immune system in response to having been infected by the COVID-19 virus. It can take up to days or weeks for the antibodies to develop and are therefore less suitable to diagnose an active coronavirus infection. Results within 15 minutes.

Please contact sarah.futhazar@ypiyachts.com if you would like some more information or if you would like to organise testing onboard or in a local laboratory.