Just wanted to document our experience that I think will be part of the “crisis of the century” – the Covid-19 pandemic, our antigen test-swab test that we never thought we would ever take.
We decided to spend a day in Twin Lakes Hotel Tagaytay for Father’s Day and my birthday celebration. We got a Family Suite package and it included a 1-day stay on a 2-bedroom suite, 4 breakfast, and 4 massages or 4 antigen tests. During these days, Manila is in GCQ “with some restrictions” while Batangas is in GCQ and only those persons 18-65 are required to have antigen tests. We originally planned to stay in Manila in BGC Grand Hyatt hotel but unfortunately, what they require was an RT-PCR test rather than an Antigen Test.
RT-PCR Test vs Antigen Test
For the benefit of this blog, I searched for the difference of RT-PCR Test against the Antigen Test that we took in Twin Lakes.
RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a laboratory testing method used to detect the presence of a pathogen such as the coronavirus to confirm if a patient is currently infected with it. It is the gold-standard and recommended method for COVID-19 testing (DOH).
Antigen testing is a suitable ‘first line of defense’ test against COVID-19, particularly in individuals who have COVID symptoms, because it is a relatively simple procedure, and is quicker than other approaches – like PCR testing; it typically takes around 15 minutes for a result.
Obviously, RT-PCR test is a more reliable type of test if you want to know if you are infected however, getting the results take time, around 24-48 hours (ideally) and the hotels in Manila require the result within 3 days. If you want to get the results of your test earlier or within 3 days, you might need to spend more so that laboratories here will expedite the processing of your PCR test.
So off we went to Tagaytay for our much needed R&R 🙂
Before we were able to check-in, we had to wait for the staff who would facilitate our swab test. It was quick, as in less than 10 minutes, we were done and we saw the results. I was adamant at first because I thought it will hurt but it didn’t. It was not comfortable but the swab was so thin and tiny and when the medical staff stuck it up in my nose, it was quick. I felt the swab touched the flesh inside my nose and it was uncomfortable yet, as I said too quick to complain.
The medical staff then put some of the swab mucus on a pregnancy-test kit-like tool and within five minutes, a single thin red line appeared which means I’m negative from Covid 19. He said that if it becomes double line, then it means we are positive with the Covid virus.
We were relieved to know that we would be able to finally relax in the hotel although we know that we should still be careful and not be too confident.
Down below, my photo while waiting for us to check-in in our room 🙂
How do you find these antigen tests? Have you tried having this kind of test also?
