General information, not an individual diagnosis. Ask a healthcare professional if you are unsure about your situation.
PCR, antigen tests and self-tests look for Covid infection, but their roles and how they are performed differ. A result needs to be considered in context: which test did you use, when, and with what symptoms?
RT-PCR is the reference technique. A medical laboratory analyses the sample. A doctor may prescribe it when symptoms are present; check sampling arrangements and how to obtain the result with the facility carrying out the test.
An antigen test looks for viral antigens in a nasal sample. Performed by an authorised professional, it provides diagnostic guidance. Ameli distinguishes it from RT-PCR, which looks for the virus’s genetic material rather than its antigens.
You carry out a self-test yourself. Its result alone does not tell you which medical action to take. When seeking advice, explain that you used a self-test and report when you took it and any symptoms.
Contact your doctor after a positive self-test or antigen test. They assess whether RT-PCR is useful according to your symptoms. After a negative result, remain cautious, maintain protective measures and watch for the development of symptoms.
If symptoms appear or concern you, seek medical advice to interpret the result and arrange the next step. Breathlessness with minimal effort or while speaking means calling 15 in France, without waiting for another test.
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