Getting tested with both direct and indirect detection methods provide a more comprehensive and accurate diagnosis, especially with infections and diseases that are difficult to detect. 

Direct Detection: 

Identifies the presence of the pathogen itself, such as with DNA, RNA, or proteins. Direct Detection can confirm that the pathogen (virus, bacteria, etc.) is currently present in your body. Best for acute infections, or cases where the pathogen is present in high enough quantities to be detected. 

Indirect Detection: 

Instead of identifying the presence of a pathogen, it looks for immune system responses that would happen when in the presence of the pathogen. Most commonly, indirect tests are used to measure the amount of antibodies in a sample. Antibodies are the proteins that the immune system typically produces to fight against antigens like bacteria or viruses. These tests can determine whether or not you have been exposed to a pathogen in the past, or even if your body is still fighting off an infection where it would be hard to detect the pathogen directly. Best for chronic or past infections in which pathogens are no longer detectable, but the immune response is.