What exactly are infectious diseases?
Infectious diseases can be transmitted from person to person via a variety of routes, including airborne particles, body fluid exchange, and even a simple handshake, and can spread from host to host via both direct and indirect contact. Testing allows your doctor to determine whether your symptoms are the result of an infectious disease.
Who should be tested?
If you suspect you have been exposed to an infectious disease, you should get tested, especially if the disease is known to have serious potential repercussions. Even if you are asymptomatic or only have minor symptoms, you may be able to transfer the infection to others around you. Some infectious infections can cause major health consequences or even death, especially
The purpose of infectious disease screening is to identify and treat people who have illnesses before they develop consequences or spread disease to others. Furthermore, screening aims to identify, test, and treat others who have come into contact with you in order to prevent the virus from spreading further.
Various Infectious Disease Tests
There are two primary methods for determining whether or not an infection is or was present in your body: checking for antibodies against the infectious agent or looking for the infectious agent (antigen) itself. In order to confirm previous exposure, serological testing looks for antibodies, your body's response to an illness. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test (also known as NAAT for nucleic acid amplification testing) reveals the presence of the infectious agent's unique genetic material (DNA or RNA).
Testing for Infectious Diseases
A doctor typically orders tests. Before ordering a test, the doctor will usually inquire about your risk factors, such as your sexual and medical history. The doctor will also inquire about any indications or symptoms of an illness in order to identify the best testing method.
When interpreting test findings, keep in mind that several infectious diseases have window periods. A window period is the span of time between when a person becomes sick and when the disease is detected on a test. If a test is performed too soon after the original infection, the results will be inaccurate, and the test will have to be repeated after the window period has expired.
