The danger comes with the interpretation of faint or absent lines. So, a dark line will usually indicate a high level of virus, and tend to be seen when people are at or near peak levels of virus within their bodies. The intensity of the test line does tend to match the concentration of viral proteins that are present in the sample. If these viral proteins are present, this will show up as a coloured line – in addition to the control line that indicates that the test has been completed properly. After the swab has been inserted into a tube of liquid, and several drops deposited on a small absorbent pad, the liquid is drawn through the cartridge, until it encounters a strip coated in antibodies which are specific to proteins from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They work in a similar way to home pregnancy tests – except in this case the material being tested comes from a patient's nose and throat, and the kit is designed to detect viral proteins, rather than a pregnancy hormone. A dark line will usually indicate a high level of virus, and tend to be seen when people are at or near peak levels of virus within their bodies. These home tests can tell you if you're infected with COVID-19 within minutes, and have been touted as a way of knowing if you're still contagious and therefore present a risk to other people, or if it's safe to resume your normal activities. If you've been stuck at home with COVID-19, and have had access to rapid antigen tests (also known as lateral flow tests) you may have noticed that the intensity of the test band varies, and wondered what a weak line actually means – particularly if you're starting to feel better.
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