COVID-19 Testing: What You Should Know

By Elise Harcsar

With the upcoming holidays, whether it be visiting family or traveling, it may be helpful to understand the variety of testing options available, as well as traveling guidelines. Governor Cuomo has established new regulations that impact our community.

For travelers not quarantining for 14 days, Governor Cuomo has regulated that returning to New York from a state or country at level 2 or 3 risk must be tested within three days prior to their return. After, they must quarantine for three days and receive another COVID-19 test.

As of now, Irvington schools only accept PCR and Cepheid Xpert Xpress rapid tests to ensure safety and reliability. PCR tests are a form of molecular testing which genetically identifies the virus using polymerase chain reaction. Although PCR tests take longer than rapid tests, they are most accurate and reliable for detecting active COVID infections. 

Antigen tests, which are not approved by the district, are a type of rapid test which locate specific proteins on the surface of the virus. However, the speed of rapid testing doesn’t align with its accuracy.

“Positive results from antigen tests are highly accurate, but there is a higher chance of false negatives, so negative results do not rule out infection,” says the FDA. Antigen tests must be followed by a PCR test for confirmation.

Cepheid Xpert Xpress rapid tests differ from antigen tests, because they are the only form of rapid testing which doesn’t require a PCR test follow up when results are negative.

As COVID cases increase in our area and throughout the country, there’s a great deal of uncertainty, and with it comes the need for taking proper precautions and following mandated test requirements.