If you’re planning to be a homeowner, a residence in a co-operative housing societies would have been recommended a good deal. The proliferation of co-operative housing society and related legal framework across India is a mammoth subject of study. To better understand the basic concept and the fabric of co-operative housing societies, this article is a good place to start.

Essentially, a co-operative housing society is a membership-based legal entity made of one or more residential buildings. You become a member by buying shares in the housing co-operative. In return, as a member, you get the right to occupy a housing unit in the society, be it an apartment or a house. A commonly accepted definition states that in a housing co-operative, the members “pursue the same cause of meeting the common need of housing or its improvement based on mutual assistance.” To elaborate, it is a democratically governed enterprise that entails voluntary management, shared expenses and community living. To borrow from Alexander Dumas’ The Three Musketeers – One for all, and all for one – is the motto of a co-operative.

The origin of co-operative housing societies

In India, the idea was introduced by the British who founded the first Co-operative Societies Act in 1904 but only applied to credit societies for farmers. The first co-operative housing society was established in 1909 in Bangalore called The Bangalore Building Co-operative Society, followed by the Bombay Co-operative Housing Association in 1913, which also established the first ever model bye-laws. The Central government formed the Co-operative Societies Act in 1912 to lay down constitutional mandates for co-operatives.

The post-independence era saw a slow but steady growth of housing societies aided by five-year plans. In 1969, the National Co-operative Housing Federation was formed as a common forum to aid housing societies to get funds and general insurance, conduct research and to assist State Level Co-operative Housing Federations. Due to rapid urbanisation and government intervention, housing societies have received the benefit of multiple state and central level schemes, which provide loans and land development assistant, in addition to amendments in co-operative housing laws that are more friendly to small to medium housing societies.

Types of cooperative housing societies (categorised on type of ownership):

There are two levels of housing societies; (1) primary housing societies at the individual level, and (2) Apex Co-operative Housing Finance (ACHFS) at the state level. According to a housing co-operative profile dissertation on Shodhganga, these ACHFS consist of around 92,000 housing co-operatives all over the country out of which, about 31,000 housing co-operatives are affiliated to State level ACHFS for getting financial aid. The rest of the co-operatives are those that get finances from other sources and those which have repaid their loans fully.

(1) Ownership Housing Societies: The society holds the land on lease or freehold basis by societies, and members own the houses.

(2) Co-Partnership Housing Societies: These housing societies hold both land and building, either on leasehold or freehold basis and allot flats to their members.

(3) House Mortgage Societies: Such societies lend money to their members for construction of houses. The members have to build a house on their own.

(4) House Construction or House Building Societies: The society provides the money to the member for building the houses and live in them. The money spent is recovered as a loan.

What are the characteristics of a co operative housing society?

• Open to all: Regardless of your gender, caste, social status, political or religious beliefs, you are welcome to join a co-operative housing society.
• Voluntary organizations: Housing societies are voluntary in their functioning, based on the idea of self-help and self-reliance.
• Democratic Ownership: Co-operatives are by the people, for the people, of the people. Office bearers/ representatives are chosen through a fair process of election.
• Self-regulation: Co-operative housing societies are operated and governed by members, thus are truly autonomous and independent in all aspects.
• Training and information: Co-operatives train and educate members with respect to management, legal compliance, and benefits of a communal living so that they can perform their parts effectively.
• Mutual help: By the means of various local, national and international structures and paradigms, co-operatives enable members follow best practices and help them create better living conditions.
• Concern for members: Welfare, convenience and prosperity of every member is the priority of a co-operative without self-interest and power plays within its functioning.
• Financial contribution: Each member contributes equally towards common properties and maintenance.
• Limited liability: Expenses are shared equally in maintenance and to the extent of contribution made by each member

Legal entity: A registered co-operative is a legal entity subject to local, national laws

What is the procedure to become a member in a cooperative housing society?

Once you decide which co-operative housing society you wish to be a part of, you need to apply for a membership in the prescribed form and fulfill the following terms:

• pay the full price of the number of shares needed for admittance and the entrance fee.
• declare information with respect to any other property/home you or your family own anywhere in the area of the society’s operation.
• present a guarantee that the flat/home you are investing in will be used for the purpose for which it is being purchased and for no other reason.
• declare all your sources of income/your dependence on others as a source of income.
• a certified copy of the stamped agreement you’ve entered into with the Promoter (Builder) or transferor.
• any such other declarations required under any bye-laws of the society.

Government policies and legislation

As such, each state has its own version of model bye-laws which you are required to follow as a member of a co-operative housing society. Other than that, below listed are some legislations that you could read up on.

• Co-operative Societies Act (1912, 1950) for national level legislation and policies
• The Multi-state Co-operative Act (2002) for the National Federation and Multi-State Co-operative Societies
• National Building Code (including compliance to make buildings earthquake resistant)
• Societies Registration Acts which differs from state to state
  Each co-operative society falls under the purview of the Registrar of Co-operative Societies which is appointed by the state government.

What are the advantages of living in a co-operative housing society?

• Housing societies are affordable since the cost per member goes down considerably in terms of all services and amenities.
• It is not a public enterprise nor is it a profit seeking initiative. The very motive of a housing society is to provide a fair financial deal to its members, eliminating any exploitation or centralised financial control.
• Housing societies are safe and secure environment to live in since every member is screened and vetted before allowing membership. Criminal elements are not entertained. Such is not the case in other types of residential areas.
• Living in a housing society is an asset when it comes to tax deductions. Since you are considered a homeowner, you can deduct your portion of real estate/mortgage tax paid by the society.
• Members have a say from the inception to the redevelopment stages of the society, in terms of design and planning. Maintenance and overhead charges are kept at minimal and divided equally among all members.
• Outside intervention (such as a landlord) is eliminated. As a homeowner, you are secure and get to enjoy the benefits of residency for as long as you wish. Even after you vacate the premises, your post occupancy benefits remain intact.
• You are a part of a bigger, more diverse community that encourages brotherhood, camaraderie and social acceptance.
• You can avail better management, amenities and well-maintained facilities in a joint venture such as a co-operative. Since the members are prompt to act, take care of the premises with a feeling of ownership and allow voicing of opinion for each member, everyone’s needs are duly met.
• Co-operative societies are stable and reliable. Members may come and go, but since society has its own legal existence and the means to sustain itself, it is a long-term arrangement, ideal for investment as well as residence.

What are bed Bugs: appearance and life cycle

If you have been experiencing red, itchy rashes on your skin then it may be because of bed bugs. You must look out for bugs on your mattress or surrounding furniture and check if there are any bed bugs. But, how do you know if what you are seeing are bed bugs or not?

Bed bugs look different in each of their life stages. Hence, it becomes important to become familiar with each stage of their life cycle. Bed bugs are not harmful as such but their infestation can be psychologically triggering and make you unnecessarily anxious. It’s best to get rid of them to avoid any unwanted trouble.

The lifecycle of bed bugs

Understanding the lifecycle of bed bugs can help you know how long the infestation of bed bugs will last. Bed bugs do not travel on their own and hence, ignoring them can cause the infestation to grow even more. Taking the time to examine any bed bugs in your home can tell a lot about the extent of infestation in the home. A typical bed bug life cycle can be divided into mainly three stages – the egg stage, the nymph stage and the adult stage.

1. Egg stage

Eggs of bed bugs are small and difficult to identify. A bed bug infestation keeps on growing once it has started due to the frequency with which the female produces her eggs. Bed bugs lay their eggs in clusters in the cracks and corners of walls and furniture. A female can lay up to 5 eggs per day for her entire adult life. The eggs are extremely small in size, about 1mm and if the eggs are over five days old then a small black spot can be seen on the eggs. The eggs hatch 7-10 days after the female has laid them. After the bed bugs’ eggs are laid, in a week or two the eggs turn into nymphs and start looking for mammals to start their feeding routine. Since bed bugs hatch in a very short period, you will likely see more bed bugs every day since the beginning of the infestation. But, how does the infestation actually begin?

Most bed bugs enter your luggage in an infested hotel room or may get onto your clothes. Bed bugs can also enter via shared walls in your apartment. As soon as they have entered through a medium, they start spreading to other locations. The female bed bugs look for a hidden crack or crevice to lay their eggs in nooks and corners of beds, paintings or other pieces of furniture. They usually lay their eggs in clusters. So, if you are someone who frequently travels, you must take care of your belongings, wash your dirty clothes at the earliest, keep them away from the bed, wash your bed sheets often and vacuum clean your home.

2. Nymph stage

As soon as bed bugs hatch they start looking for their first blood meal from mammals. Bed bugs move from the egg stage to the nymph stage very soon. Freshly hatched eggs are called nymphs. They look for their blood meal before they can moult into their first instar nymph stage. They undergo a five-stage moulting process in five weeks after which they mature into an adult. Bed bugs undergo various nymphal stages before turning into adult bed bugs. Like many other insects, bed bugs shed their exoskeleton during each of their nymphal stages.

Nymphs are smaller than adults and lighter in colour than adults although they may look similar. Nymphs are translucent or straw coloured. They turn red after having their first blood meal from a mammal. Both adult and nymph bed bugs take about five to ten minutes for a complete blood meal. Bed bugs usually bite during the night as that’s when you are most likely to be on the bed. You may not feel their bite on your skin but your skin may see a small allergic reaction. This is mainly due to the proteins found in the saliva of bed bugs. You may experience itching if you scratch at the spot continuously. The reaction to the bite may stay on for about 1-3 days.

3. Adult

Adult bed bugs measure up to 4.5 mm long. An average adult bed bug lives for four to six months or a year depending on the natural conditions. An adult bed bug may obtain a blood meal once every week and can live longer without any food. After five weeks of maturation, adult bed bugs are capable of breeding and reproduction. Adult bed bugs give birth to new bugs and continue with their infestation. Adult bed bugs have flat, brown bodies and can grow to about an inch in length. Adult bed bugs are oval-shaped and their bodies enlarge after they have fed. An adult bug may obtain a blood meal once every week and can live longer without any food. Bed bugs can stay healthy even if they feed for about three to ten minutes every few days. They can go on for long periods without eating any food. Bed bugs’ lifespan is about 12 to 18 months. Throughout their lifespan, each female can create multiple generations of bed bugs throughout your home.

The appearance of bed bugs

Bed bugs are tiny and the size of a seed. Nymphs are smaller than adults, translucent, straw coloured. Nymphs are visible to the naked eye if they haven’t fed recently. Eggs are pearl white in colour and can be seen if they are more than five days old as they develop a black spot. Adult bed bugs are the largest in size. These can grow to about an inch. They are long, brown and have a flat, oval-shaped body. Bed bugs are smelly with a musty-sweetish odour which is produced by glands present on the lower side of their body.

FAQs

Home Services

In continuation to our efforts in improving usability, increasing engagement, increasing collection, reducing the operational efforts, and supporting acquisition and retention in the system, we have identified and rectified the following product gaps and also added certain valuable enhancements to the product.

New Dues Page – Phase 1

Dues page, being the most frequently visited page by the Society Accountant/Treasurer for recording payment / view account statements, required multiple clicks for day to day transactions, making it a cumbersome process. This is now simplified with the new Page bringing the account statement and payment and flat search in a single view.

Path : Dashboard>> Accounts>> Dues and receipts>> Dues

New Dues Report

Revamp on dues report by introducing new filters (such as FY) that can reduce difficulty in fetching required information, With a hyperlink under the “House” tab redirecting to the flat’s dues page and another under the “Total Dues” tab redirecting to the “Current Dues Break Up”

Path : Dashboard>> Financial Reports>>  Dues and Advance collection>> Dues Report

New ‘Custom Group’

As a part of improving the user experience, we have redesigned the ‘Groups’ section within the ‘Communications’ tab. The new UI presents a better segregation of customizable groups and removes the SMS group option.

Path : Dashboard>>  Communications>>  Groups

Prepaid – Recharge Status Verification Tool

Previously, in case of any failure of payment or pending status the admin had no single view to track and action these transactions. Now we have introduced a Pending Recharges Page along with Retry Recharge and mark as success buttons which can enable the admin to take action immediately without depending on MyGate. To support the admin further, a new daily balance graph has been introduced in case the admin needs validation on the actual status of recharge.

Path : Dashboard>>Accounts>> Utility Meter>> Meter Charges

New ‘Pay Later’ Option in ERP checkout

Adding to the existing list of payment methods, we have introduced the ‘Pay Later’ option. Users can use “Simpl” or “ICICI Paylater” through which they can avail credit for their invoice payments and payback in smaller values within subsequent few months.

Path : User App>> Community>> Society Dues>> Choose Invoice>> Make Payment>> Pay

Related ​​Invoice Numbers now available in ‘Dues Collection’ report

Introduced ​​Invoice Numbers column under the Collection report. This would provide more visibility to the accountants and managers to perform their analysis/segregation.

Path : Dashboard>> Financial Reports>> Dues and Advance collection>> Dues Collection

Owner Name-based search in house filters

Acknowledging the difficulty in searching for a unit in case of difficult building/house nomenclature, we have arrived with a name-based search option to ease the difficulty in finding an individual. This option is now available under Receipts, Batch ID and Billing details as well.

Path : Dashboard>>  Accounts>> Dues and receipts>> Receipts

Path : Dashboard>>  Accounts>> Billing Details

Path : Dashboard>>  Accounts>> Invoicing >> Invoice history

Preferred TDS application in Vendor Advance Payment

Option to define the TDS charges against each of the vendors has been available under the “Vendor Master”. These predefined TDS settings will now automatically prefill the TDS rates under the “Pay advance” similar to previous implementation in  “Book Expense”

Path : Dashboard>> People Hub >> Vendors>> Create Vendor>> Preferred TDS setting

Path: Dashboard>> Accounts>> Purchasing>> Book Expense>> Pay Advance

Inventory Statement rework

The Inventory Listing and Details pages have been re-organised to help the accountants or store managers gain clear visibility on stock availability and their consumption statement. The action column has been made non-scrollable to ease daily activity by the customers.

Path: Dashboard>> Asset and Inventory>> Inventory

Item Description in Batch ID Excel Export

The relevant item description is now available in the subsequent column for each of the charge items. This can be viewed in the Excel download under the Invoice history against the Batch ID.

Path: Dashboard>> Accounts>> Invoicing >> Invoice History>> Batch ID

Meter based upload to reflect the Sum of Amounts under Change Reading

The Change Reading under the “Config amount” previously did not showcase the total amount. With the current update, the invoice template shows the summation of the “Config amount” above the “Change Reading” in the template.

Path: Dashboard>> Accounts>> Invoicing>> Member Invoices>> Invoice Template

Tower Level Admin (for child societies)

With the increasing adoption of umbrella societies, it was found that the tower level admins would need access to more modules and hence have improved the experience of tower level admins by giving access to the relevant information needed by the admin. Following are the list of items we have provided access to the tower level admin.

• Building List
• Flat List
• Resident List
• Generated Reports
• Visitor Validation Report

Monthly Entry-Exit report Improvements

Based on feedback from Society Admins, we have added a few more fields in the downloaded report for the admins to verify the details from the same report. Following are the list of fields added in the Monthly Entry-Exit report.

• Entry Allowed By
• Exit Allowed By

To prevent download failure, incomplete download and to address security vulnerability of monthly entry-exit data stored in the archive, we have made the report download happen in real-time by sending the reports over mail and also showing them under ‘Generated Reports’. This will solve the missing data issue and timeout errors during download.

Path: Unified Dashboard >> Society >> Generated Reports

Refined Home Page for Society Dashboard

• In order to give the ability to the admins to choose on the widgets based on their priority we have introduced the customisation ability for widgets where the admins can drag and place a widget as per their priority and convenience. 
• Society Level widget configuration for the admins who have access to multiple societies.
• Expand and collapse of the Menu tab in the Unified Dashboard

Additional Notes : 

• Bank Reconciliation Report page String Change
• Dues Report – Download PDF Implementation & Detailed Page
• Dues Report Revamp – (Improvements & Separation of Ageing) Task
• House Name to appear as Payee Name in web-payments

MyGate

One of the most disturbing things for a homeowner to discover is small piles of wood dust underneath furniture. Those piles of wood are a telltale sign of the presence of one of the most destructive pests in Indian homes: termites!

Know your enemy

There are two types of termites commonly found, and knowing which one you’re dealing with will make remediation that much easier.

Subterranean termites prefer living in moist conditions and can be found both in wood and in the soil. These are termites you are likely to find living under homes with wooden foundations, feasting on the wood.

Drywood termites are their more dangerous cousins. These pests do not need moist conditions, and, as their name suggests, build colonies in dry wood wherever they can find it. These are the critters you will find in your furniture, in wooden walls, and eaves.

There are two main reasons that make dealing with termites more difficult than dealing with regular pests. The first is that, due to their size, spotting termites in your home is close to impossible. And the second is that by the time you see telltale signs of their presence, a lot of the damage would have already been done.

In this short read, let’s discuss some top tips for preventing an infestation and how to get rid of termites if the infestation is inevitable.

Recognizing their presence

We all know that small piles of wood dust underneath furniture are indicative of the presence of termites. However, here are some other signs that confirm that you have a termite problem.

• Termite droppings and/or wings in the area surrounding wooden furniture.
• Holes in the woodwork that fall through when pushed against with a sharp object.
• Mud tube formations on the walls of the house.

While the first two indicate the presence of dry wood termites, the third one is a sign of subterranean ones.

Preventive measures

“Prevention is better than cure,” as the old adage goes. Let’s take a look at what you can do to prevent a termite infestation.

Aloe vera provides natural protection against termites. Apply aloe vera gel to your wooden furniture periodically, especially before the onset of the monsoons.

A mixture of four parts water to one part white vinegar also works efficiently in keeping termites at bay.

Get your wood treated with Borate before you build your furniture. Borate or borax powder is very effective against termites.

Moisture is very essential for subterranean termites to thrive. This can be avoided altogether if you keep your home as moisture-free as possible.

Those who live in humid areas would do well to invest in a dehumidifier. Your air conditioner can also help in keeping your home cool and control moisture in the air during the summer.

Subterranean termites gain access to your home’s foundation through the soil. This makes having your door open out into the garden a terrible idea. 

Experts advise that to avoid an infestation of subterranean termites, maintaining a minimum distance of 18 inches between your home and where your garden begins is essential.

The best way to stay on top of possible termite invasions and to mitigate the amount of damage caused is to have a periodic pest inspection done by qualified professionals.

That way, you not only have better chances of finding out about the infestation before it completely destroys your wooden furniture, you also have expert advice on the best ways to rid yourself of these pests. 

Anti-termite treatments

While we’ve looked at options to prevent a termite infestation, knowing how to kill the termites in your home is also of paramount importance. Let’s now take a look at some effective anti-termite treatment options.

1. Make use of sunlight

Termites thrive in dark and cool environments. Pick up all your infected furniture and put it out in the summer sun for two or three days at a stretch.

Not only will the termites be killed by the heat, but the sunlight will also dry up all the extra moisture from your furniture.

2. Cardboard box traps

Cardboard makes the perfect termite trap. Since it is primarily made of cellulose and has a woody smell to it, termites find cardboard irresistible.

All you need to do is wet cardboard boxes a little with water to make the smell even more tantalizing and leave those boxes near your termite-infested furniture.

Within a few hours, you will find termites thronging in the open cardboard box, and you can burn the box to rid your home of the termites.

3. Boric acid spray

Boric acid is a non-toxic combination of water and borax powder which is known to be effective in killing termites.

Make a solution of borax powder and water. Fill this solution into a spray bottle for ease of use. Then, spray it on the wooden furniture.

While it may take a few applications for the termites in your home to disappear altogether, the method is nonetheless effective. For increased efficacy and a quicker turnaround time, you could try pairing this method with the cardboard box traps.

4. Natural oil treatments

Orange oil contains a compound called d-limonene which kills termites as soon as they come into contact with it.

Neem oil, on the other hand, kills termites when it is ingested by them. Spray either of these natural oils on the infected surfaces repeatedly to achieve the best results.

5. Natural-born killers

This may sound a little bizarre, but it turns out that certain worms are very effective in stopping the spread of termites.

Parasitic nematodes are small worms that burrow into and kill termite larvae in two days. These worms are available on online marketplaces, and you may even be able to source them from your local nursery.

About MyGate

MyGate is India’s largest apartment management software, benefiting thousands of housing societies, developers, society facility managers, and millions of homeowners in every Indian city.

Home Services

The influence and benefits of technology on our lives today cannot be overstated. The twenty-first century is widely regarded as the century of inventions and technologies, as they have pervaded our daily lives and improved them. It is the process of making things, tasks, and activities easier to complete with maximum efficiency. Tasks that used to take a lot of effort and time can now be completed with a few taps on a smartphone. However, not everyone knows how to use it, so they may end up asking friends, relatives, and co-workers to help them perform tasks like booking a cab. In this article, we’ll go over a step-by-step guide to ‘How to book a cab online?’ as well as some advantages of booking cabs online.

Online cab booking

Booking a cab used to be a difficult procedure that included calling various tour and travel companies. Even though the internet was available, you had to look out the contact information for a cab service in the area you were visiting to make your reservations. The majority of travel companies did not have their own booking websites where you could contact them and book a cab to the airport and other places. However, in the last few years, things have drastically shifted as technology entered our life. There are numerous online cabs booking services like Ola and Uber available today that offer services like airport cab booking through the phone application, and are entirely secure to use at any time.

These online cab booking services are less expensive and send trustworthy drivers that have all the necessary information to pick up customers, ensuring that you get to your location safely. Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals of online cab bookings, let’s look at the benefits of online cabs bookings over offline cabs.

How to book a cab online?

You no longer need to tell someone to “book a cab for me,” because our step-by-step online cab booking tutorial will walk you through the process to book a cab to the airport and other destinations. So, go through the “How to book a cab online” guide.

1. Download the online cab booking app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
2. Complete your profile and verify your phone number by entering the OTP.
3. After you’ve completed your profile, you may book a cab to the airport or other destinations online by granting the app access to your location or manually typing the pickup address.
4. The next step is to choose a destination, after which you can choose from a variety of automobile alternatives, each with a projected price and arrival time.
5. Select your preferred car and make your payment online or choose the cash payment option.
6. Once you’ve connected with a cab driver, the app will display the cab driver’s information, including current location, estimated arrival time, cost, and rating.
7. The route map, which refreshes as the cab drives, is also available for the users.
8. Give the OTP to the driver when the cab arrives at the location and start the drive to your destination.

Advantages of online cab booking

There are various benefits of pre-booking cabs using online applications and websites, a few of which have been discussed below:

Saves time

Online cab bookings save you a lot of time that would otherwise be spent on the road looking for a cab. Furthermore, there are fewer odds that you will find a taxi on the road, and even if you do, there are even fewer chances that you will be willing to take it to your desired location. Online cab booking applications connect you with expert cab drivers that pick you up and drop you off at your desired place on time. If you need to go to the airport, for example, an airport cab booking service allows you to pre-book a cab so that you can be there on time for your trip.

Comparatively cheaper

A lot of tourists need cabs to visit the place, but are unknown about the appropriate cab prices in the market and end up getting looted. Online cab booking applications like Ola have a fixed fare charge that is shown prior to the trip, allowing you to book the cab at a comparatively cheaper price.

Special offers

The best thing about online cab booking apps is that they frequently provide special discount offers to users, allowing you to order a cab at a very low cost. If you want to book a cab to the airport, for example, seek specific airport discount offers that are available to frequent and new users.

Cab details

Unlike traditional cab bookings, where the cab driver is unknown, and you don’t even have the cab specifics, Ola and Uber give you the cab driver’s and car’s information ahead of time. Users can also share these facts with their friends and family, making the journey even safer.

Easy payment options

India is currently experiencing a surge of digitization, with many people carrying very little cash and preferring to use cards, online payment options, and other methods. Due to the dearth of online payment alternatives, a traditional cab driver may only accept cash payment, while online cab booking apps accept the majority of online payment choices, allowing you to participate in the digitized India.

Easy interface

You don’t even need to rely on people asking them to help book a cab for me, because the apps’ user interface is designed with everyone in mind. These applications support a variety of Indian languages and offer a simple cab booking page, the steps for which are outlined further down in the guide.

Safety

Everyone’s first priority is to book a safe cab, and online cab booking apps recognize this value and thus share cab details, have a special SOS button that shares your location with pre-selected people, allow you to give feedback to the cab drivermy and assist other passengers in making a decision, and use GPS mapping. To make the cab booking even more safe, you can install the MyGate Apartment Security system that makes sure that only approved cab drivers enter the residence to pick you up after a thorough security check.

Conclusion

Booking a cab online is a simple operation with numerous advantages, so read the “How to book a cab online” article and reserve the cab without relying on anybody else. To make the ride safer, share the cab information with friends or family members, as well as the cab’s current location. Also, use MyGate Apartment Security to allow only approved cab drivers to enter the residence.

Home Services

The coronavirus pandemic, which shook the world at its advent two years ago, baffled the medical fraternity all over the world. It was an unprecedented medical crisis that created stress and anxiety as doctors grappled with insufficient resources to understand the infection and how to deal with it.

Fortunately, researchers developed certain tests to detect the virus and find ways to reduce its spread. These tests have played a crucial role in understanding how the virus gets transmitted. They help in detecting patients who have Covid-19 or had it in the past. These tests also help in suggesting the appropriate treatment to help save lives and control the transmission of the virus.

There are many questions about these Covid-19 tests: what are the different types of tests, when should one get tested, what is the procedure of the tests, and how much time does the RT-PCR test take.

Here you can find all this information and more about Covid-19, the tests needed to detect the virus, how much time the RT-PCR test takes, and what to do while you wait for the results.

Types of Covid-19 tests

There are three types of coronavirus tests:

• RT-PCR tests
• Antigen tests
• Antibody tests

RT-PCR test

RT-PCR or Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction is one of the most common and accurate techniques for detecting the Covid-19 virus. This test is considered the ‘gold standard’ of testing, as it perfectly identifies a positive test if it is conducted within five days of showing the symptoms.

For this test, a sample is collected from the person’s nose or/and throat, which are places where the virus usually accumulates. The sample is then treated with chemical solutions to extract the RNA of the patient and the virus, if it is present.

However, the effectiveness of this test decreases to 70% if done later, between 9 and 11 days, and by the 21st day, it drops to 30%.

Antigen test

Antigen tests are also called serological tests and are used to detect proteins or antigens that are specific to the coronavirus.

Compared to the RT-PCR test, this test has a higher risk of a false-negative, which means the virus may be present in your body, but the test may not show it. The test might also report a false negative if the virus is present in very low amounts.

Antigen tests are called rapid tests, as some clinics provide the results in just 15 minutes.

Antibody test

Our immune system creates antibodies to fight the bacteria or virus that attacks our body. These antibodies are created within a few days or weeks after being infected and are unique to the kind of virus the immune system is responding to.

An antibody test cannot be used to detect a present infection. It only detects any previous infection. This test is done by collecting a blood sample through a finger prick and sent to the laboratory for detecting antibodies specific to the Covid-19 virus.

Some clinics give you the results on the same day, while some other clinics may take three to five days.

Who should get tested?

As per the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), the following people should get tested for Covid-19:

• People who display Covid-19 symptoms (cough, fever, loss of taste and smell, fatigue)
• People who have been within 6 feet of a patient suffering from Covid-19
• Those who have been referred by a doctor
• Those who may have attended a large indoor gathering that could expose them to the risks of contracting the infection
• People traveling to countries that require a negative RT-PCR test within 48 to 72 hours of their arrival.

Where should you get tested?

You can get tested at a private clinic, a government healthcare facility, or a laboratory. Several labs also conduct home visits to collect the samples.

What to expect during coronavirus testing

RT-PCR test procedure

For the RT-PCR test, a six-inch-long swab is inserted into the nostril or the back of your throat to collect a mucus sample. The swab is then rotated for a few seconds. The same procedure could be followed for the other nostril. You may feel slight discomfort during the test, but it lasts for just a few seconds.

The swab is then sealed in a sterile container and sent to the laboratory for testing.

Antigen test procedure

Similar to the RT-PCR test procedure, the antigen test requires a sample of mucus. A long swab is inserted into the nostrils and rotated for a few seconds. The swab is then sealed in a container and sent to the lab for testing.

During this test, too, you may feel slight discomfort for a few seconds.

Antibody test procedure

The procedure for the antibody test is different from the RT-PCR and antigen test.

In this test, the lab technician sterilises and pricks a finger for the blood sample. The blood sample is collected and sealed in a container, and then sent for lab testing.

What you should do while waiting for the test results

If you have done the RT-PCR test because you have been exposed to the virus and have been showing the symptoms, you should assume you have been infected and take the necessary steps to avoid spreading it to the people around you. You should self-isolate until you get your results.

However, if you have done the testing for travel purposes, have not come into contact with people having Covid-19, or are not showing the symptoms, then there is no need to self-isolate.

How much time does the RT-PCR test take?

Regular RT-PCR test

A regular RT-PCR test will give you the result within five hours. However, as there are different tests for Covid-19, every test takes its own time to come up with the results. It depends upon the kind of test and the laboratory or the hospital where you have done the test.

Rapid antigen test

Antigen tests give the results within 15 minutes. During these tests, too, a swab is inserted into the nose or the throat to collect a sample of the mucus. However, in this test, the sample is not sent to a laboratory. The sample is applied to a strip. The strip changes color if you test positive.

These tests are inexpensive and convenient as people know sooner if they are infected and if they need to self-isolate. Rapid tests are usually conducted before entering a healthcare facility or other public settings. Furthermore, as the antigen tests do not require a laboratory, these can be conducted at home.

The disadvantage of the antigen tests is that they are not as accurate as other lab tests and risk giving a false negative result.

What you should do if you have contracted Covid-19

If you think you may have contracted Covid-19, or if you have mild symptoms of the infection, follow these self-care steps to stay safe and to ensure the safety of others around you:

• Self-isolate in a well-ventilated room.
• Use a triple-layer mask and change it every 8 hours or if it becomes wet and soiled.
• Take ample rest and stay well-hydrated.
• Wash your hands frequently for at least 40 seconds or clean with a hand sanitiser.
• Do not share personal items with other members of your family.
• Clean every surface of your room that you may have touched.
• Monitor your temperature.
• Monitor your oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter.
• Consult your physician if you notice any changes in your symptoms.

Here are some instructions for the caregiver:

• The caregiver should wear a triple-layered mask, especially when entering the patient’s room
• Maintain strict hand hygiene after visiting the patient’s room
• Avoid exposure to the oral or respiratory secretions of the patient while in their room or while helping them
• Sanitise your hands or dispose of the gloves after using for caregiving purposes.

Conclusion

There are different tests available for detecting Covid-19, and every test takes a different time to give the results. The time for RT-PCR depends upon where you get the test done. Some tests give the results within minutes, while some tests take a few days.

RT-PCR tests are preferred because of their accuracy. Antibody tests detect if you have had the coronavirus earlier, and antigen tests give a quicker result but have a greater chance of a false negative result.

If you are detected with Covid-19, it is essential that you self-isolate, follow sanitisation rules, stay well-hydrated, and follow your doctor’s instructions.

About MyGate

MyGate is India’s largest society management system, benefiting thousands of housing societies, developers, society facility managers, and millions of homeowners in every Indian city.

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