COVID-19 testing is continually evolving. However, it’s helpful to know the basics, such as the types of tests available and when each is used. Based on data from the FDA and clinical resources like this one, we’ve compiled an at-a-glance primer on COVID-19 testing basics (accurate as of blog publication date).
| DIAGNOSTIC | TESTING | ANTIBODY TESTING | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test type | Molecular Tests (RT-PCR) | Antigen Tests | Serological Tests |
| What it measures | Virus DNA material | Virus proteins | IgM & IgG antibodies |
| Use to diagnose | Active infection | Active infection | Past infection |
| Reliability | Highly accurate but false negatives can occur | - Positive results are usually accurate - Negative results are less reliable and may require a molecular test |
Past infection |
| How collected | Nasopharyngeal, nasal, throat and saliva (a few tests) | Nasopharyngeal or nasal (most tests) | High potential for false negatives and positives |
| Where | Lab, point-of-care and home | Lab, point-of-care and home | Lab and point-of-care |
| Prescription needed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Results | Minutes to 7+ days | Minutes to days (tend to be faster than PCR) |
Often same day but may take several weeks |
| Approved Tests | FDA EUA list | FDA EUA list | FDA EUA list |
Here’s more helpful information about COVID-19 testing:
- All have Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA.
- The FDA cautions that a positive antibody test does not indicate immunity and COVID-19 precautions should still be adhered to.
- Since false negatives are possible with molecular testing, it’s often best to treat a patient as positive if symptomatic, especially if there’s known exposure.
- Pooled sample testing is sometimes used to save time and testing materials because multiple peoples’ samples are tested at once. It’s most effective when most samples are expected to be negative, such asymptomatic testing at companies and college campuses.
- Combination tests are available that can test for COVID-19, seasonal flu and sometimes other respiratory infections.
- Testing is trending toward faster results and convenience as seen by the more recent emergence of rapid antigen tests, saliva sampling and home-based testing.
- To date, two molecular and one antigen home-based test have qualified for FDA EUAs. Because the quality of sample collection can affect accuracy, some products offer videos to help guide the process.
- It is not yet known if/how virus variants will impact the efficacy of test results.
Interested in more information about COVID-19 testing? Visit our COVID-19 portal for additional resources. For the latest information, subscribe to our blog or follow us on your preferred social channel: Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.
