According to information issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who have symptoms of coronavirus, or who have had close and prolonged contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status or previous infection, should be tested for the virus. Some available tests are responsible for detecting current infection, while others detect past infection.

• Viral test: This type of test detects the active virus. Two types of viral tests can be used, such as nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and antigen tests.
• Antibody test: The test determines if you had the infection before. These types of tests should not be used to diagnose a current infection. It is also known as serological.

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viral test
A viral test checks samples from your nose or mouth to find out if you are currently infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Viral tests can be done in a lab, at a testing site, at home, or anywhere else. This test is recommended for people who meet the following specifications:
– People who are not fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine who have had close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19.
– People who are not vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine and who have participated in activities that put them at higher risk of contracting COVID-19, such as attending large social or mass gatherings, or being indoors with many people (school or Workplace).

antibody test
Antibody or serology tests look for antibodies in your blood to determine if you had a previous infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. Antibodies are proteins created by your body's immune system shortly after you've been infected or vaccinated. These will help them fight infections and may protect you from getting that disease again.
– Not used to diagnose current infection with the virus that causes COVID-19, except in cases where viral testing is delayed.
– Having antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 can provide protection from being re-infected with the virus. But even if it does, we don't know how much protection antibodies can provide or how long this protection can last.