When RAT-testing for COVID, should you also swab your throat? - The Conversation
We're now pretty used to swabbing our nose to test for COVID when we have a scratchy throat or new cough. But should we also be using our rapid antigen test (RAT) to swab our throat, as some social media sources suggest? As people with an Omicron infection often get a sore throat early on, they reason that Omicron is found first in the throat. So swabbing the throat and nose together, some social media sources say, is more likely to accurately detect an infection. A sore throat is more common with Omicron than Delta. However this doesn't mean you should use your nasal RAT to swab your throat for Omicron. It's best to follow the instructions on the packet. Remind me, what are the different types of RATs? There are several different ways to test for COVID using a RAT. Oral samples can include saliva (spit into a tube), saliva from a tongue or cheek swab, or a throat swab (tonsil area). Nasal samples can be collected from the front (anterior), midd