orange county covid testing (7)

Rapid COVID-19 Nasal Swab Test

 Rapid COVID-19 Kit: Immunodiagnostic procedure for the detection of Coronavirus at home in 15 minutes.

Coronavirus is spreading continually across the world. Research-based companies are using different screening methods to screen suspected COVID-19 individuals. RT PCR technique is being used, which gives the results in3 -4 hours. Because of an unprecedented increase in the number of cases, the technique is not helping the cause. Most countries are relying on rapid testing technologies for COVID-19, which can provide results in just 15 minutes. And it is easy to use, portability is some of the features associated with rapid testing technologies. Rapid kits can also be deployed in hotspot areas of the country to screen asymptomatic as well as symptomatic patients to control the spread of this respiratory virus.

Rapid tests are also known as prick-based tests. These tests need not be conducted in laboratories. The presence of the antibodies pertaining to the Coronavirus can be easily detected with the help of Rapid COVID-19 Tests OC. Most of these kits are based on the IgG and IgM antibodies. The presence of these specific antibodies can help to detect whether Coronavirus infected the patient earlier or recently, the individual came in contact with COVID-19 infected individual.

Rapid COVID-19 kits are easy to use. The kits can be easily used at home by using a simple pricking needle, which is usually provided with the kit. Blood from the fingertip can be easily drawn with the help of this needle. The blood withdrawn can be put into the test cassette having the markings for the antibodies for IgG and IgM. Samples testing positive for IgG antibodies and IgM antibodies will show easily demarcated colors, which can be used to differentiate between positive and negative results. Serving as an internal control, one color line will always appear, which will indicate that the proper amount of specimen and sample has been added to the test cassette.

The results can be interpreted as follows:

IgM positive: An indication of primary COVID-19 infection.

IgG and IgM positive: An indication of secondary COVID-19 infection.

IgG positive: Indication of any past COVID-19 infection.

Negative: No infection of Coronavirus.

Invalid: Failure to detect the sample.

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Rapid testing kits for home are available on the websites of top diagnostic companies. Most of the COVID-19 rapid test kits are accredited by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). These kits also can speed up the process of screening symptomatic as well as asymptomatic patients. So the most pronounced advantage of Rapid COVID-19 kits is that they can be deployed directly at the point of the care in hospitals and anywhere in the country where emergency conditions have advanced.

Rapid COVID-19 Test OC can also detect the presence of antibodies that released to the pathogenic virus. These kits can detect the presence of SARS-COV-2 qualitatively. Early detection of the Coronavirus can help the government authorities and health agencies to halt the spread of Coronavirus within communities.

Follow Orange County Covid Testing Clinic for more updates on Rapid COVID-19 kits and updates related to Coronavirus.

Stay Safe; Stay at home.

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Coronavirus in Orange County | Orange County Covid Testing 

 THERE’S STILL MUCH to learn about the disease that has killed thousands of people and is changing life as we know it during this pandemic. But we do know some important basics about COVID-19 and the novel coronavirus—SARS-CoV-2—that causes it.

Coronaviruses are a large family, but only seven of its members infect humans. Four types cause minor illnesses like the common cold, while other coronaviruses have triggered far more devastating impacts such as SARS, MERS, and now COVID-19. Coronaviruses can be zoonotic, meaning they jump from animals to humans. Like its relatives, COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory disease that starts in the lungs, causing pneumonia-like symptoms, but can also cast a storm across the entire body.

The virus primarily spreads through small respiratory droplets.

Like other respiratory diseases, COVID-19 OC spreads through small droplets—saliva or mucus—that an infected person expels when they cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can travel three to six feet and remain infectious for anywhere from four to 48 hours, depending on the surface. (The virus may also spread via accidental consumption of fecal matter or aerosols, tiny particles that are mostly a concern in clinical settings.)

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40,000

droplets

3,000

600

Sneezing

Coughing

Talking

droplets

per minute

On surfaces, it lives longer.

You can protect yourself from catching the virus by staying six feet away from others and washing your hands with soap and water for more than 20 seconds. Disinfectants that are at least 60 percent alcohol by volume can also kill the virus on plastic and stainless steel surfaces.

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72 hours

24

Plastic and

stainless steel

4

Cardboard

Copper

Coronaviruses get their name from their spiky structure.

Like other coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 is spherical with spike proteins that look a bit like a corona, or crown.

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Spike

protein

RNA, the virus genetic material

Those spikes help the virus latch onto cells where it can invade.

Once a virus enters the human body through the eyes, mouth, or nose, it looks for cells with its favorite doorways—proteins called receptors. If the virus finds a compatible receptor, it can invade and start replicating itself. For SARS-CoV-2, that receptor is found in lung cells and the gut.

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To gain access to the cell the virus binds to the receptor.

Once inside, the genetic material of the virus, or RNA, is released.

The infected cell reads the RNA and begins making proteins that will keep the immune system at bay.

Viral

proteins

As the infection progresses, these new proteins form copies of the virus.

New copies of the virus are assembled and carried to the outer edges of the cell, then go on to infect other host cells.

Age seems to factor into the severity of the disease.

Currently, children with COVID-19 may be less likely to require intensive care and also have lower fatality rates than adults. The difference in severity is not yet fully understood.

There isn’t a single diagnostic symptom, but some are more common.

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87.9%

Fever

67.7

Dry cough

38.1

Fatigue

33.4

Phlegm production

18.6

Shortness of breath

14.8

Muscle and joint pain

People with chronic conditions have a higher mortality rate.

COVID-19 poses a particularly serious threat to people with underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease, high blood pressure, and cancer.

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10.5%

Cardiovascular disease

7.3

Diabetes

6.3

Chronic lung disease

6

High blood pressure

5.6

Cancer

0.9

No condition

Testing is done to diagnose the presence of the virus.

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Swab samples taken from the nose or mouth are tested for the virus’s genetic material. Researchers are also developing protocols for tests using blood samples.

It could take at least one year before a vaccine is ready for public use.

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To develop immunity, vaccines may contain killed or weakened viruses, viral proteins, or viral genetic material. The best strategy to use against SARS-CoV-2 is yet to be determined.

For Rapid Covid 19 Nasal Swab Test in Orange County contact us!

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Covid-19

Orange County Covid Clinic

COVID-19: Stages and Treatment

COVID-19 can be cured at home if necessary restrictions and guidelines are followed. It depends on the extent the disease has spread in one’s body that influences the decision of whether one should self-quarantine at home or get admitted to a hospital. If you feel that your body is showing severe corona-virus symptoms such as regular coughing episodes leading to shortness of breath, muscle aches and tiredness, it is necessary to get admitted in the hospital as doctors in the hospital will provide you necessary advanced treatment and facilities that can’t be acquired at home.

If your condition is serious, the doctors will want to run a few tests to understand the extent of the spread of the virus in the body. Initially, the possible things that doctors in the hospital will do are:

 

  • Level of oxygen in your blood will be checked with a clip-on finger monitor
  • Chest X-ray or CT scan
  • COVID-19 test which involves putting a cotton swab at the far-end of your throat and both sides of the nose.

 

If your condition seems to deteriorate, you may be provided with extra oxygen through your nostrils via tubes. The doctors keep a keen watch on your breathing pattern and monitor the spread of the virus in the lungs, to heal them, and make them capable enough to produce oxygen again on their own. Patients having severe COVID-19 infections are thoroughly monitored by doctors and are given proper anti-viral medications for the same. Doctors may also advise you to keep a check on your respiratory hygiene practices or guide you to follow special quarantine guidelines to reduce the virus and curb its spread.

Coronavirus can actually be characterized into various stages based on the severity of the symptoms and the condition of the patient. Accordingly, doctors in hospitals provide appropriate individualized treatment based on the patient’s condition. These stages are precisely characterized by the type of biological contact of the people with the virus.

The initial phase is when the person has a slight infection and shows mild symptoms like cold or flu. It is during this stage that the virus multiplies rapidly in the infected person’s body. In this early stage, doctors may suggest you undergo ‘Convalescent plasma treatment’ i.e. plasma from the already recovered patients is transferred to the patients to reduce the viral infection, thus speeding the recovery.

The next stage is when the virus has attacked the immune system thus disabling its efficient functioning. This phase also called the pulmonary phase results in the formation of blood clots and respiratory conditions like shortness of breath, intense coughing feats, etc. At the stage, doctors suggest the use of tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), which helps in the breaking of blood clots.

Next stage i.e. the hyperinflammatory phase is when increased virus in the immune-system starts causing injuries to kidney and heart. This is a risky stage and can be fatal. During this time, doctors suggest anti-inflammatory medications like corticosteroids or tocilizumab. To prevent blood clots in the blood vessels and capillaries, an anti-clotting drug ‘Herpin’ is used in all the stages.

Due to these stages, doctors believe in giving personalized treatments to the patients depending on their situation. Although these are the various treatments that the doctors suggest to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the body, there is no cure to this novel coronavirus disease yet. Doctors in the hospitals, all over the globe are trying their best to provide patients with the best possible treatment to reduce the causalities.


For Covid Tests Contact Us At Rapid COVID-19 Nasal Swab Test Orange County

 

Article Source:- https://orangecountycovidclinic.blogspot.com/

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Covid-19

Coronavirus is said to be a novel virus i.e. it is a new strain of the virus that has not been identified before in any animal or human, leading to a lot of uncertainties regarding the effect of the virus on different people. It is observed that the COVID-19 affects different people differently; for some, it may start with coughing fits and fever, others may experience muscle aches and lack of taste, while some may even be asymptomatic.

A concrete explanation of why this novel virus has different effects on different people is not yet concluded, however, it is closely associated with the immune system of the person. It depends on how your immune system responds to the spread of the virus in your body. Once the virus enters your body, it starts replicating at an immense rate, that’s when your immunity power gets triggered and acts as a resistor to fight and stop the spread of the virus. The immunity power of each person’s body differs, resulting in varied behavior of Covid-19 infection among people.

The extent of the virus also depends on the body’s resistance against the unwelcomed virus. A person might get so sick that they need to be hospitalized, while some infected people may get cured just by following home-quarantine. There were many other strains of coronavirus that had affected mankind in the past, namely MERS-CoV, which caused infections in the Middle East, and SARS-CoV, which caused the 2003 SARS outbreak. The new COVID-19 spreads in the same way as the previous strains of coronavirus i.e. by attacking the human respiratory system causing similar symptoms as the common flu, however, this strain of the virus is much better adapted to humans beings causing a grave number of cases all over the globe.

People having poor health conditions or pre-existing health problems like heart disease, respiratory problems, diabetes or cancer are likely to get affected adversely and can have life-threating COVID-19 infections. Some people may get really sick while some people may not have any problem. There are various factors because of which COVID-19 infections affect people differently but researchers are still not able to find the core reason behind this unusual behavior.

Some researchers stated that the type of blood also affects the spread of the virus in the body cells. People having ‘Type O’ blood have a protective effect as compared to the people having ‘Type A’ blood. ‘Obesity’ to is one of the factors influencing the spread of coronavirus. However, these are just statements by the researchers and there is no substantial evidence to confirm the same. Various researches are carried out extensively to understand the prime factors responsible for coronavirus.

‘Age’ is also a factor that was highly affected by the intensity of the virus in the human body; it was observed that people above the age of 60 are at higher risk of getting coronavirus.

A robust immune response can fight the virus when your body asks for help against the infection caused by the virus. The immune response of the body can be high or low, the body should have the ability to develop the right amount of immunity at the right time to control the virus. An inappropriate immune response can lead to a reverse reaction that may end up attacking your body instead of the virus.

Worldwide, it is seen that around 80% of the people heal without any complications however, 1 out of every 6 people having coronavirus can become seriously ill which may lead to death. The condition of the person worsens if the virus in the body worsens, causing pneumonia or other infections that become difficult to cure.

As of now, there’s no substantial proof to back up the main reason of why COVID-19 affect people differently, however, following the basic hygiene practices, eating healthy food and keeping your body fit and fine, will help your body fight and kill the COVID-19 infections.

For COVID Tests Contact Us At Orange County COVID Testing

 

Article Source:- https://orangecountycovidclinic.blogspot.com/

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COVID-19 testing

COVID-19 or coronavirus has created havoc all across the world and is considered to be a global pandemic. It has resulted in a nation being shut down with drastic effects on the world economies and health systems. COVID 19 testing is done to identify the coronavirus among the individuals and is mainly conducted through Polymerase Chain Reaction Test (PCR). It helps to detect Influenza A, Influenza B, H1N1, and other antibodies produced due to the virus. Serology is another type of method used as it shows the presence of antibodies, i.e. whether the person has been infected at some point in the past, whether they show the symptoms or are asymptomatic.

The PCR test is conducted by using a swab by taking a sample of mucus from the back of the throat or a saliva sample. In the PCR test, the enzyme ‘polymerase’ is used to duplicate a segment of a patient’s DNA i.e. to create the copies. It all depends on how the DNA segment gets copied. Some viruses like SARS-COV-2 are made of RNA instead of DNA, in such a case, a process called as reverse transcription is used to convert RNA into DNA, after which the duplication process takes place. Duplication leads to the creation of copies that are then exposed to fluorescent DNA binding that shows whether there’s the presence of a virus or not. According to the scientist and researchers, this process takes approximately 4-6 hours to a day. However, this test is only valid in the first week of the disease because later the virus disappears from the throat, however, it continues to spread itself further in the body especially the lungs.

Coming to our nation, India is conducting the PCR test in two stages:

STAGE 1: testing the genetic elements commonly found in the body because of the presence of coronavirus.

STAGE 2: SARS-COV-2 specific tests that detect the presence of this virus only.

Nations affected by this virus are regularly conducting these tests with the motive to detect, cure, and minimize the presence of the virus among the citizens. Statistics show that, as of 22 April, the countries that published their testing data have on average performed a number of tests equal to only 1.2% of their population, and no country has tested samples equal to more than 13% of its population.

Testing is the key to keep track and find out the extent of the spread of the virus. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct regular tests, especially in the most affected areas to detect and avoid further cases. It helps us to identify the infected individuals and efficiently guide them to appropriate medical resources thus helping them as well as the people around. One of the important requirements is the gathering of the data. The data about the number of confirmed cases in a region is necessary to understand the growth levels of the pandemic. It is also mandatory that the government provides accurate information about the spread of the virus, detected cases, confirmed cases and deaths to the public so that they understand the gravity of the situation.

‘Social distancing’ and ‘quarantine’ are the precautions given by the government for the public to follow, however, the priority should be focussed on conducting as many tests as possible. Through a continuous chain of testing, chances are we might be able to curb this grave situation before it affects people in increased numbers or gives rise to the second wave of the pandemic. The probability that a person has had COVID-19 after a positive result from the test is less than 50%. They might show symptoms that the test must have detected or it might be because they were detected positive in the past. However, there are ample chances of people getting cured through regular precautions taken against respiratory diseases.

For Affordable Rapid COVID-19 Nasal Swab Test Orange County Contact Us!

Article Source:- https://orangecountycovidclinic.blogspot.com/

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Our healthcare workers have been on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19 since this crisis began. We were one of the first COVID-19 Testing Clinics in Orange County to offer testing to help slow the spread of the virus in our local communities. We’re also one of the only clinics to provide testing to OC businesses to help them reopen safely.

To date we’ve tested hundreds of workers in the area and will continue to do so thanks to the hard work and determination of our healthcare heroes. The following story is told by a member of our staff, who was determined to save the day for a local childcare facility in need of COVID-19 testing.

10 DAYS OF NON-STOP CALLS

As soon as I knew we were going to be offering COVID-19 testing for businesses in Orange County, I was certain my challenging job was about to become even more of a challenge. 

 With that said, last Friday was one of the toughest days I can remember. 10 days prior (Wednesday, to be exact) I was spending the entire workday answering dozens of calls from large and small local businesses. From a childcare facility that needed COVID-19 tests for their 10 employees, to a bigger company with a PPO plan who wanted us to provide on-site antibody testing for their entire staff. The phone didn’t seem to stop ringing.

 The next 10 days were spent answering urgent calls from businesses who had a known COVID-19 case and needed us to test the rest of their staff on-site. Friday, however, began as a calmer day than what I had become accustomed to. With only a few calls from business owners who wanted more information from us. They asked things like “What do I do in the event one of my employees catches COVID-19?” and “What’s the difference between the molecular swab test and the antibody test?”.

 After a few of these types of inquiry calls, I was able to go home early for one of the first times in weeks. Unfortunately, this “calm day” wouldn’t last.

A LAST MINUTE CALL FROM AN OC BUSINESS IN NEED

At 7:06 on Friday evening, I was eating dinner when I received a call from one of our clinics. They explained to me that they had just gotten off the phone with a company in need of a high volume of tests for their entire staff.

 The next half hour was spent discussing the situation with the Vice President of Production for the company. This is when I found out the company needed tests as soon as possible for 200 employees in total.

 Immediately I contacted my team to ensure we could perform on-site testing for such a high volume of employees with short notice. Once I received the OK, I called the lab to prepare them to receive the tests, and the entire operation was set in motion.

ADMINISTERING THE TESTS & REPORTING THE RESULTS

The next day, we arrived at 9:30 am to administer the tests. The line of employees was steady over the next hour, and once the 72nd individual had been swabbed, we sent the specimens off to the lab. The company was a 24-hour operation, so we had to go back from 3-6 pm in order to test the remaining shifts.

As of today, the results have been pouring in. A few positives were reported, so those employees have been contacted and told to stay home. I then made a call to the company to discuss these results and answer any questions. Here is a timeline of the reporting process:

5:30 AM: I notified the positive employees and told them to isolate themselves from their family. I also answered any questions they had and provided a link to a website that could provide even more information about COVID-19.

Some of the employees didn’t speak English, so I needed to find an online resource that was available in different languages. I also provided a link to OC testing sites that offer drive-up testing for the employees’ family members.

6:00 AM: I had a conference call with the employer and informed them that anyone who had been working closely with (or carpooling with) the positive employees should be identified and remain at home. They could be retested in 5 days.

6:35 AM: Schedule tests for the few employees that had missed the original on-site testing at one of our four clinics.

7:15 AM: After answering more questions from the employer, I texted one of our staff members — who assisted our Medical Director and me with test swabs, reporting, and more — to be prepared for another busy day.

As you can see, this situation has put my staff and me to the test, but all of the effort required was worth it. At the end of the day, we’re helping an Orange County business stay open safely and ensuring residents don’t lose their jobs. 

 

For COVID TESTS contact us at Orange County Covid Testing

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Can Corona virus be killed?

 

Can Corona virus be killed

The entire world is familiar with the havoc created by the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and yet there is no concrete cure to this deadly virus. Since this virus has rapidly spread in most of the colder regions of the world, it has led people to believe that the virus may tend to disappear as the summer months arrive. Speculations are that this virus may wane with the increase in the temperature i.e. in the warm weather, however, there is no staunch data or proof to back up this assumption.

Usually, flu spreads during the cold winter months and tends to decrease its spread in the warm months. It is suggested that the coronavirus may be seasonal and there is hope that its spread may reduce as the temperature warms up. According to the research, it was found that there were various types of coronaviruses out of which three show the characteristics of having winter seasonality. However, one strain of the coronavirus found among patients having weak immunity systems has the tendency to grow and proliferate throughout all the seasons. Also, the fact that the virus has spread among various hot, humid regions of the world cannot be ignored.

Considering ‘coronavirus’ as a variable factor here, it can be easily explained in a way that, there may be an indirect proportionality between the coronavirus and temperature factor i.e. if the temperature increases it leads to the decrease of the spread of the virus. However, the temperature isn’t the only factor that affects the growth of the virus.

It is quite difficult to come to a conclusion regarding this topic. Scientists and researchers tried to compare it with the other pandemic outbreaks in the past. However, each flu pandemic has had its own character and they do not follow the same seasonal patterns, thus making it difficult to conclude whether high temperature will kill coronavirus. For e.g. Spanish flu outbreak was the most in the summer season as opposed to the outbreaks of other flu that are influenced by cold months.

Coronavirus comes under the family hierarchy of ‘enveloped viruses’. Since they are enveloped in an oily, greasy layer scientifically known as ‘lipid bilayer’, that freezes and hardens in the cool temperatures, it protects the virus thus keeping it alive for a longer time. However, chances are that this process won’t happen in places having higher temperatures, thus making it possible that the virus may diminish in hotter temperature.

Climate and temperature are of course some of the important factors because they decide the stability of the virus outside in the air once it is expelled from the person in the form of mucus i.e. while talking, sneezing or coughing. If the climate is such that it supports the stability of the exposed virus, the virus will spread rapidly. However, environmental factors are not the only factors responsible for the spread. It is the people who are the primary carriers of the virus. Thus, the temperature of the person’s body to affects the virus to some extent. People should avoid coming in contact with each other because that only is the most probable solution to stop the transmission of the disease.

However, it is a fact that there isn’t ample evidence to prove that whether warm weather really kills this coronavirus strain. As various regions of the world show dynamic humidity levels, it is difficult to create every possible weather in the lab to see its effect on the virus. Also, sometimes maybe the weather change is not the influencing factor but the strain of the virus may change due to some specific weather. Scientists have studied the real-world cases, still, there is no data to back up this statement. Most types of flu tend to stop spreading in summer; however, COVID-19 did spread in the regions of Iraq and Australia in-spite of warm weather conditions.

For COVID Tests Contact Us At Orange County Covid Testing 

Article Source:- https://orangecountycovidclinic.blogspot.com/

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