Rapid antigen testing gives you the chance to discover COVID-19 infection very early on, sometimes even before the appearance of symptoms. This is important, as even people who are asymptomatic are capable of carrying and transmitting the virus. A nasal swab or saliva sample is taken, then the sample is immersed in a specific chemical solution. Special care should be taken to follow all instructions, for the best chance of accurate results. The advantage of rapid antigen tests is that they quickly produce test results – this can help to slow transmission of COVID-19 and control outbreaks.