Antigeenitestitulos

Antigeenitestitulos refers to the result or outcome of an antigen test. Antigen tests are rapid diagnostic tests that detect the presence of specific viral antigens, which are proteins on the surface of a virus. These tests are commonly used for detecting infections like influenza and, more recently, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

The "tulos" in antigeenitestitulos is the Finnish word for "result." Therefore, an antigeenitestitulos is the interpretation of the test, indicating whether the specific viral antigens were detected or not. Typically, antigen tests provide a result within 15 to 30 minutes. A positive result indicates that the virus's antigens were found in the sample, suggesting an active infection. A negative result suggests that the virus's antigens were not detected.

It is important to note that antigen tests can sometimes produce false negatives, meaning the test is negative even though the virus is present, especially in the early stages of infection or with low viral loads. False positives, where the test is positive but the virus is not present, are less common but can occur. The accuracy of an antigeenitestitulos depends on factors such as the quality of the test kit, the timing of the test, and the individual's viral load. Depending on the context and the specific test, a positive antigeenitestitulos may need to be confirmed by a more sensitive laboratory test, such as a PCR test.