COVID-19 tests can be performed in academic, private and commercial laboratories. They also are available at home. UC Davis Health has greatly expanded our on-site testing capabilities by developing and validating our own בדיקת קורונה.

A molecular PCR test can be described as the most precise COVID-19 test. It involves inserting a 6-inch-long swab (like the extended Q-tip), into the the nose and mouth (nasopharyngeal Swab) for around 15 seconds. It is then rotated multiple times. The swabbing is then repeated on the opposite side of the nose, to ensure that enough material is gathered. The swab will then be put in a container and taken to the lab for analysis.

Here's more info from UC Davis Health about בדיקות קורונה PCR types, which types should be tested and why testing is so important to prevent its spread.

Do I have to get tested for COVID-19?

It is best to seek advice from your doctor about the need to test for COVID-19. Tests are recommended if you are suffering from COVID-19 symptoms, or have been exposed to anyone who tested positive for the virus.

Health experts caution that מעבדות קורונה will only inform you the staus you're experiencing at the exact moment at which it occurred. As an example, you might be exposed to the virus just a couple of hours prior to testing, but haven't reached the level which can be detected with COVID-19 tests.

A standing committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has issued a rapid consultation with experts. The consultation covers four areas related to COVID-19 diagnostic tests. The topics covered include the advantages and disadvantages of reverse transcript polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) tests; the state of the art and point-of-care tests as well as strategies and considerations for particular types of sequences and types; and the next-generation sequencing. This consultation is not for tests for antibodies.

Diagnostic tests will continue to be crucial in guiding COVID-19 treatment and disease surveillance. It will also aid to identify contacts and plan to reopen schools and the economy. At present, at least 30 million tests will need to be conducted each week in order to quickly diagnose individuals as well as their relatives, and the screening of patients with symptoms could need up to 14 million tests daily, the rapid expert consultation says.

Currently, RT-PCR tests which are performed in central labs are considered to be the most reliable method for determining the presence of infectious viruses. But, this could change as more evidence is available regarding antigen-based diagnostics and other highly sensitive testing methods.

The rapid expert consultation says that there is a trade-off in the RT-PCR tests as opposed to rapid point-of- care (POC) tests. These tests are employed commonly to screen asymptomatic patients. The tests for POC may be less sensitive. sensitivity and specificity. These tests need to be performed multiple times per week in order for individuals to identify and quickly isolate the cause of the problem. This is to decrease the prevalence of certain conditions for instance, in college campuses. The rapid expert consultation notes that, at present there aren't many methods and procedures that are in place to report quick POC results to health authorities in the public sector particularly when the tests are administered by universities or employers. It is possible that the number and location of people infected might not be documented, and transmission could be unadvised.

Expert consultations with a rapid speed can identify situations where split-pool testing (testing the sample pool and then splitting the pool again) or wastewater surveillance (a method to test water containing human waste for signs and asymptomatic individuals) could prove beneficial. It also considers NGS as a test that is highly specific and sensitive. One company may be able test 10,000 samples simultaneously with a turnaround of 24 to 48 hours. It's not clear whether NGS tests will have to contend with the same transportation issues, processing and reporting as RT-PCR tests.