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Published on: Jul 09, 2020
2 minute read
By: Dr Rakesh Choudhary

COVID- 19 Tests – What Do You Need To Know?

COVID- 19 tests – What do you need to know?

Author: Dr. Rakesh Choudhary MBBS, MS, FRCS UK, FRCS Orth UK, MChOrth UK.

Dr. Choudhary is a practicing consultant surgeon in the UK.

So many of us think it is not their job to learn about COVID-19 tests and this should be left for the experts and governments to decide about these tests. But I strongly suggest the public must have a basic understanding of these tests which they may have to have themselves.

Basically there are two types of tests, one which can detect the virus in the body and the other one which tells if the person had the previous infection.

Virus test

The virus test detects an active infection. It detects the genetic material (RNA) of the virus during an active infection. It is also called a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test or nucleic acid test and is sometimes inaccurately called an antigen test.

A swab is taken from deep in the back of your throat and deep in the nose. The swab should go deep up to 7-8 cm and is generally uncomfortable for the patient. Swabbing patients using the correct technique is paramount in ensuring an accurate result. By simply swabbing the inside of the nasal passage is not deep enough to verify that the virus is present.

What does virus testing tell you?

This test tells us if a patient is actively infected with the COVID-19 virus. Virus testing is used mainly for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

When should it be done?

The virus test works best during the first seven days of symptoms.

The coronavirus can be detected in swabs even before symptoms of illness first appear . This is why people can be infectious for a few days before the onset of symptoms, which usually appear about 5 days after the virus infects. Some people have no symptoms throughout their infection but are positive on the virus test and infectious to others. After a few days of illness, the concentration of the virus falls (as seen in swab samples) and the symptoms of the illness usually recede.

Accuracy of the test

In a person with COVID-19, the test is less likely to give a positive result late in the course of infection once the virus has been cleared by the immune system, or if an inadequate sample is taken from the nose or throat. There are concerns that the rate of ‘false negative’ test results could be as high as 30% and a significant number of people are wrongly being told they do not have the virus.

Antibody test

Antibody tests check your blood by looking for antibodies, which may tell you if you had a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. Antibodies are protein structures that are produced by the immune system in response to certain infections. The antibody can help fight off infections and can provide protection against getting that disease again (immunity). Antibodies are disease-specific. For example, measles antibodies will protect you from getting measles if you are exposed to it.

The antibody test detects the presence of antibodies as a marker of past infection. The antibody test (blood test) will only detect infections after the immune system has produced antibodies that recognize the virus. This happens approximately 7–10 days after symptoms develop.

Tests carried out a week after a patient develops symptoms will detect only 30% of people who had COVID-19 infection. Accuracy increases to 72% at two weeks and to 94% in the third week. Some people may take even longer to develop antibodies, and some people who are infected may not ever develop antibodies.

Interpretation of the antibody test is complex for non-medical people. Basically having antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 may provide protection from getting infected with the virus again. If it does, we do not know how much protection the antibodies may provide or how long this protection may last.

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KEYWORD: Employee Wall of Fame – Celebrate uniqueness

In today’s competitive and fast-paced work environment, employee recognition plays a vital role in building a positive and productive workplace culture. While salary and benefits are important, appreciation and acknowledgment often have a deeper and longer-lasting impact on motivation.

An Employee Wall of Fame is a powerful yet simple initiative that celebrates individual contributions, highlights achievements and reinforces a culture of appreciation.

What Is an Employee Wall of Fame?

An Employee Wall of Fame is a recognition platform — physical or digital — that showcases employees who have demonstrated exceptional performance, creativity, teamwork or leadership.

It may include:

Employee photographs
Achievement descriptions
Monthly or quarterly awards
Customer appreciation highlights
Team milestones

This visible recognition fosters pride and belonging.

Why Celebrating Uniqueness Matters

Every employee brings distinct skills, experiences and perspectives to the organization. Recognizing uniqueness:

Encourages diversity
Builds confidence
Promotes innovation
Strengthens team cohesion

Appreciation creates an inclusive culture where everyone feels valued.

Benefits of an Employee Wall of Fame

1. Boosts Employee Morale

Public recognition reinforces positive behavior and motivates others to perform better.

Employees feel acknowledged for their hard work.

2. Enhances Productivity

When employees know their efforts are recognized, they are more likely to:

Stay engaged
Take initiative
Maintain consistent performance

Motivation translates into measurable productivity gains.

3. Strengthens Workplace Culture

Recognition fosters:

Respect
Team spirit
Healthy competition

A positive environment encourages long-term retention.

4. Encourages Continuous Improvement

Highlighting achievements sets performance benchmarks.

Employees strive to improve skills and meet high standards.

5. Improves Employee Retention

Feeling valued reduces turnover.

Recognition strengthens emotional connection with the organization.

Types of Employee Wall of Fame Models

Physical Recognition Board

Placed in office reception or common area.

Ideal for on-site teams.

Digital Wall of Fame

Hosted on company intranet or website.

Suitable for remote or hybrid teams.

Themed Recognition

Examples include:

Innovator of the Month
Team Player Award
Customer Champion
Wellness Ambassador

This allows diverse achievements to be celebrated.

How to Implement an Effective Wall of Fame

Define Clear Criteria

Establish transparent guidelines for selection.

Encourage Peer Nominations

Allow employees to nominate colleagues.

This increases participation and fairness.

Rotate Recognition Regularly

Monthly or quarterly updates maintain enthusiasm.

Share Stories

Include short narratives describing contributions.

Stories inspire others and personalize achievements.

Combine with Rewards

Certificates, small gifts or appreciation emails enhance impact.

Employee Recognition in the Indian Workplace

With evolving workplace dynamics in India, organizations are focusing more on employee engagement and cultural development.

Recognition programs like Employee Wall of Fame help companies build stronger employer branding and create motivating environments.

Such initiatives are particularly effective in fast-growing sectors such as healthcare, IT and startups.

Addressing Common Challenges

Avoid Bias

Use structured evaluation criteria.

Maintain Consistency

Ensure regular updates to sustain credibility.

Encourage Inclusivity

Recognize diverse roles, not just top performers.

Long-Term Impact on Organizations

Organizations that celebrate employee uniqueness often experience:

Higher engagement levels
Better teamwork
Increased innovation
Stronger organizational loyalty

Recognition transforms workplace dynamics positively.

Integrating Wall of Fame with Wellness Culture

Companies can align recognition with health and wellbeing initiatives, such as:

Fitness achievements
Community volunteering
Mental health advocacy

Celebrating holistic contributions promotes balanced development.

Conclusion

An Employee Wall of Fame is more than a decorative display — it is a strategic recognition tool that celebrates uniqueness and strengthens workplace culture.

By acknowledging achievements openly and consistently, organizations foster motivation, engagement and loyalty.

In an era where talent retention and employee satisfaction are critical, simple appreciation initiatives can create lasting impact.

Celebrating individuality is not just good for morale — it is essential for building resilient and high-performing teams.

Recognition inspires excellence, and excellence drives success.

References

World Health Organization – Healthy Workplace Framework
Harvard Business Review – Employee Recognition Research
Indian Journal of Occupational Health – Workplace Engagement Studies
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Recognition Reports
NITI Aayog – Workplace Wellness Strategies

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