Coronavirus Testing, Reliability and Availability Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

Coronavirus Testing How It Works and When to Get Tested

Rapid tests and antibody tests may be keys to resuming normalcy

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert It got off to a rocky start — and with ongoing supply shortages, it's still far from perfect. But testing for the new coronavirus is ramping up throughout the U.S., and it's expected to keep expanding. Here's a look at what's currently available and what's on the horizon for coronavirus testing:

How many different coronavirus tests are out there

Before the coronavirus started spreading in communities across the U.S., there was just one type of test to detect an infection. This test kit was made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and was distributed to a handful of state and local public health labs. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. But since the end of February, more than 25 types of coronavirus tests have come on the market. These have been developed by commercial manufacturers and granted emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — a fast-track approval process of sorts that helps to push out potentially lifesaving tools during a public health emergency. To date, nearly 1.8 million tests have been used to identify cases of coronavirus in the U.S., according to the COVID Tracking Project. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

How do the tests work

The majority of the available coronavirus tests work similarly: They look for the virus’ genetic material in a sample of mucus, which is usually collected by a nasal or throat swab administered by a health care worker, says pathologist Timothy Stenzel, director of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health at the FDA. One test that has received an emergency use authorization, however, is different: It's a blood test, for starters. And it can tell whether a person had the virus by identifying antibodies, which are basically a signal that the body already responded to an infection.

How long does it take to receive test results

That depends on a few things. Most of the tests in use are analyzed at off-site laboratories, and results can take anywhere from a day to more than a week to get back to the patient. The major reason for testing delays now is not a lack of testing kits, as was the case at the start of the outbreak. Now the holdup is shortages of the “ingredients” needed to process the tests in the lab, says Eric Blank, chief program officer at the Association of Public Health Laboratories. "I think the public perception is the swab goes into a black box and then a result pops up. And there's a lot more to it than that,” Blank says. Reagents, swabs and transport mediums needed for the multistep process are in high demand around the world as the coronavirus continues its spread. “So it's not just a U.S. problem; it's a problem globally. It is getting better, but it's still going to take a while before the pipeline gets filled and we're getting all the supplies we need,” Blank says. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. , they don't test positive for the virus anymore, they may be safe [to return to work]. And I emphasize 'may'because we're still learning a lot about this virus,” Stenzel says. Jodi Jacobson/Getty Images

More on Coronavirus

What is this coronavirus antibody test

Unlike other tests on the market, the antibody test (also called a serology test) does not diagnose a current infection. “It signifies that the person has been exposed to the virus long enough that their immune system has been responding to it,” Stenzel says. It's important to remember: Many people who are infected with the coronavirus do not experience symptoms. And knowing whether someone has been infected but wasn't sick can also pinpoint people who may be in the clear to return to normalcy. Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers > People who have already had the virus are “probably not going to be a danger to other people,” Stenzel explains. Scientists are still working to better understand if and how the virus mutates, but Stenzel says the thought is that those who have “been exposed to coronavirus and have developed immunity and have completely recovered, hopefully won't get it again.” Public health experts are also looking to serology tests to paint a more complete picture of how the virus spreads and to better understand its fatality ratio. The CDC is developing its own serology test for this reason.

What other tests can we expect to see At-home tests

In addition to rapid testing and tests that identify past infections, some experts believe at-home testing is part of the future. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. on what home recovery looks like and what you should — and shouldn't — do if you're sick from the coronavirus. The key is to keep your doctor up to date on symptoms, especially if they worsen. People with more severe illness may need medical attention. If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 — trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or bluish lips or face — get help immediately. More on health AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS