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What Is Antigen

An antigen is a molecule capable of stimulating an immune response. They may be proteins, polysaccharides, lipids or nucleic acids. Each antigen has distinct surface features that are recognized by the immune system.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has several known antigens, including its nucleocapsid phosphoprotein and spike glycoprotein, which are the visible protrusions on its surface.

An antibody is a Y-shaped protein produced by B cells of the immune system in response to exposure to antigens. The tip of each Y-shaped arm contains antigen binding sites (paratopes) that bind to a specific portion of the antigen’s surface (epitope). This binding helps to eliminate antigens from the body, either by direct neutralisation or by “tagging” them for elimination by other arms of the immune system.

When infected with SARS-CoV-2, the body produces antibodies that bind specifically to the spike proteins and other antigens to help eliminate the virus. This binding can be harnessed to develop antibody and antigen-based diagnostic tests.

What are antigen tests and what can they tell us?

An antigen test reveals if a person is  currently  infected with a pathogen such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Once the infection has gone, the antigen disappears.

Unlike nucleic acid-based tests such as PCR, which detect the presence of genetic material, antigen tests detect proteins or glycans, such as the spike proteins found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

They can take longer to develop than molecular and antibody tests, as suitable antibodies for use in the assays must first be identified and produced, which can be a complex and time-consuming process. Accuracy can also be a problem, with antigen tests typically having a much lower sensitivity than PCR.

However, they usually provide test results rapidly, are relatively cheap, and can be more amenable to point-of-care use, which could make them more suitable for testing in the community and in remote regions.

How antigen testing works

Antigen tests seek out specific proteins only found in the virus, which the body’s immune response recognizes as 'foreign'. Most COVID-19 antigen tests target the 'spike protein' that studs the surface of the coronavirus.

A swab from the nose is collected for this test, where there's a high likelihood of virus particles being present. The swab is then dipped in a solution that inactivates the virus and then transferred onto a test strip. The test strip houses antibodies that bind to coronavirus proteins and hold them in place as the fluid spreads.

If the sample is positive for coronavirus, colored lines will show up on the paper strip in 15-20 minutes.

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1. Open Aarogya Setu or Cowin.gov.in website.
2. Enter your mobile number and click on the OTP (One Time Password). Enter the OTP received on your mobile number and click on the verify button.
3. In Aarogya Setu app, go to the CoWin tab, and tap on the Vaccination tab. Tap on Proceed.
4. Now, a registration page will appear where you will need to enter the photo ID type, number and your full name on it. You also need to enter the gender and age of the person. For example, you can use a Driving License, Aadhaar Card as photo ID proof.
5. In front of the registered names’ account details you will see a column named “Action”. Below it, you will see a calendar icon, click on it to schedule an appointment.
6. You will be taken to “Book Appointment for Vaccination” page. Now, enter details like State/UT, District, Block and Pincode. Once all these details are entered, click on the “Search” button.
7. A list of vaccination centres will appear depending on your location. You can choose one of them and then see the vaccination dates available at these centres. If there are choices of slots and dates available, you can choose one at your convenience. You can also choose dates from the next week and then click on the “Book” option.
8. An “Appointment Confirmation” page will open showing the details of the booking. You can either click on “Confirm” if the information is correct or click on “Back” to make some changes.
9. In the end, an “Appointment Successful” page will appear showing all the details. You can download and save the confirmation of the vaccination details.

1. Open Aarogya Setu or Cowin.gov.in website.
2. Enter your mobile number and click on the OTP (One Time Password). Enter the OTP received on your mobile number and click on the verify button.
3. In Aarogya Setu app, go to the CoWin tab, and tap on the Vaccination tab. Tap on Proceed.
4. Now, a registration page will appear where you will need to enter the photo ID type, number and your full name on it. You also need to enter the gender and age of the person. For example, you can use a Driving License, Aadhaar Card as photo ID proof.
5. In front of the registered names’ account details you will see a column named “Action”. Below it, you will see a calendar icon, click on it to schedule an appointment.
6. You will be taken to “Book Appointment for Vaccination” page. Now, enter details like State/UT, District, Block and Pincode. Once all these details are entered, click on the “Search” button.
7. A list of vaccination centres will appear depending on your location. You can choose one of them and then see the vaccination dates available at these centres. If there are choices of slots and dates available, you can choose one at your convenience. You can also choose dates from the next week and then click on the “Book” option.
8. An “Appointment Confirmation” page will open showing the details of the booking. You can either click on “Confirm” if the information is correct or click on “Back” to make some changes.
9. In the end, an “Appointment Successful” page will appear showing all the details. You can download and save the confirmation of the vaccination details.

1. Open Aarogya Setu or Cowin.gov.in website.
2. Enter your mobile number and click on the OTP (One Time Password). Enter the OTP received on your mobile number and click on the verify button.
3. In Aarogya Setu app, go to the CoWin tab, and tap on the Vaccination tab. Tap on Proceed.
4. Now, a registration page will appear where you will need to enter the photo ID type, number and your full name on it. You also need to enter the gender and age of the person. For example, you can use a Driving License,  Aadhaar Card  as photo ID proof.
5. In front of the registered names’ account details you will see a column named “Action”. Below it, you will see a calendar icon, click on it to schedule an appointment.
6. You will be taken to “Book Appointment for Vaccination” page. Now, enter details like State/UT, District, Block and Pincode. Once all these details are entered, click on the “Search” button.
7. A list of vaccination centres will appear depending on your location. You can choose one of them and then see the vaccination dates available at these centres. If there are choices of slots and dates available, you can choose one at your convenience. You can also choose dates from the next week and then click on the “Book” option.
8. An “Appointment Confirmation” page will open showing the details of the booking. You can either click on “Confirm” if the information is correct or click on “Back” to make some changes.
9. In the end, an “Appointment Successful” page will appear showing all the details. You can download and save the confirmation of the vaccination details.