Covid-19期間，常提到病毒檢驗不同的方式與術語：
檢測病毒主要有以下三種方式：
核酸檢測 (NAT, nucleic acid testing/PCR testing)
Photo/Graphic courtesy of Bookman l 圖片:書林
抗原檢測 (antigen testing/rapid antigen test)
抗體檢測 (antibody testing/antibody test)
「核酸檢測」係分離患者呼吸道中的病毒核酸，再以可識別病毒核酸的螢光探針偵測，過程約需花費二至四小時以上，且需由專業人員操作。核酸檢測需大量擴增病毒核酸數量以利偵測，若是利用聚合酶連鎖反應 (polymerase chain reaction, PCR) 複製擴增病毒核酸數量，又稱為 PCR testing。
Photo/Graphic courtesy of Bookman l 圖片:書林
The more reliable way to screen for COVID-19 is through nucleic acid testing (NAT) to identify a particular virus that acts as a pathogen in blood, tissue, urine, etc. NAT differs from other tests in that it detects genetic materials (RNA or DNA) rather than antigens or antibodies. Detection of genetic materials allows an early diagnosis of a disease. Since the amount of certain genetic material is usually very small, NAT usually makes many copies of it. One of the methods to amplify the amount of genetic material is polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
「抗原檢測」用於檢測體內是否有新冠病毒的抗原，能找出正處於感染中者 (is currently infected)，簡單說就是「現在進行式」(present continuous tense)。
A rapid antigen test (RAT) is a rapid diagnostic test that directly detects the presence or absence of an antigen, which indicates whether a person is currently infected.
「抗體檢測」用於檢測體內是否有新冠病毒的抗體，主要是找出曾感染者 (have previously been infected) ，就像文法的「過去式」(past tense)。
Antibody tests identify people who have previously been infected with the coronavirus but they do not show if a person is currently infected. This is primarily a good way to track the spread of the coronavirus through a population.
快篩試劑 (rapid test kit) 通常是利用「抗原檢測」或「抗體檢測」，能於十五分鐘內就知道結果，不需特殊儀器，一般醫事人員就可操作。就疫情擴散而言，使用抗原快篩較能找出帶有新冠病毒的可能傳播者並加以隔離，是對抗新冠病毒的防疫利器。
核酸檢測抗原檢測抗體
英文單字庫：檢測
核酸檢測 nucleic acid testing (NAT); Real-time PCR
血清檢測 serological test; serological testing
抗原免疫檢測 antigen testing
抗體檢測 antibody testing
新冠病毒快篩試劑 COVID-19 rapid test kits
文章由書林出版公司提供：
www.bookman.com.tw
蘇正隆 — 台灣翻譯學學會前理事長、師大翻譯研究所兼任副教授; 編著《英語的對與錯》，《世紀病毒：必讀防疫英文知識與詞彙》...等
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