ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — This week the Florida COVID-19 Response Team introduced new rapid coronavirus testing at the Hard Rock Stadium and Marlins Park in South Florida.

What You Need To Know

  • Antigen tests promise results in less than 15 minutes

  • Test looks for viral protein on surface, instead of genetic code of virus

  • Antigen tests might require multiple tries

This new antigen testing is designed to change the game in getting more and faster results.

What exactly is the antigen test and how is it different?

The antigen test promises results within 15 minutes.

Dr. Allison Messina, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital's Medical Director of Infection Prevention, explained there are two tests and they look for different things.

The viral PCR test is the one Florida’s been using at drive-up sites and can get results in from an hour to several days, depending on the volume of patients.

It’s a bit invasive, with the nasal swab sometimes going deep inside the nose cavity. However, it’s also a little more accurate in finding the virus. That is because the PCR test is looking for the genetic material of the virus, Messina said.

The antigen test is easier to do, according to Messina. It looks for proteins that are part of the surface of the virus. Doctors and officials will be able to do more of that method of testing, and do it faster.

Messina said someone who is showing symptoms and tests negative might need a second try, though.

"You might want to repeat that test and still kind of consider them a little bit suspect,” she said.  “Or maybe that person might want to run a PCR test just as a backup to see if they're really, really negative. However, both tests are pretty accurate when they're positive."

It is also important not to confuse the antigen test with an antibody test, which is a blood test.

This one checks to see if you've already had the virus, not if you're sick.

All Children's Hospital in St Petersburg is not doing the antigen test because that facility is only testing its own patients and staff.

Messina said no test is 100 percent accurate.

As the antigen test becomes more available, she said it is beneficial. But she also warned that people who take the test and get a positive result should not have a false sense of security.

Messina also strongly urged everyone to continue wearing face coverings, hand washing and social distancing.

BayCare Health Systems and AdventHealth said they will be getting the antigen tests in the Tampa Bay area very soon.