Coronavirus disease diagnosis

The manual coronavirus test is relatively straightforward: if you suspect you may have COVID-19 (the disease), medical staff might swab your nose or the back of your throat in order to collect samples where SARS-CoV-2 (the virus) is typically found in patients. The swab sample is then analyzed to see if there is a genetic match. The wait time for test results has improved, and it is now reported that patients can expect to receive their results within 1-3 days. ¹¹

In terms of where or how you can get tested, the CDC recommends that you contact your health care provider, who will decide whether you need to get tested and where to do it.¹² Each state or city’s health department may also have a website to guide their residents on the latest information, sometimes also providing a list of local COVID-19 testing sites.

People at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19, such as the elderly or those with underlying health conditions, should also reach out to their health care provider with any questions or concerns.

If you or someone you know are experiencing any of the emergency warning signs for coronavirus disease, please call 911 and seek immediate medical attention.