Table 1.

Summary of Testing Symptomatic Individuals

Goal(s) of Testing

• Diagnosis of COVID-19 infection for patient management including treatment and isolation

• Epidemiological tracking in community

Testing Strategies

Testing performed as early as possible after the onset of symptoms. Standard NAAT and rapid RT-PCR preferred; antigen tests and rapid isothermal assays may also be used but may have lower sensitivity. NP swab considered gold-standard, but alternative specimens may be used if included in the test’s EUA or validated by testing laboratory. Testing of lower respiratory tract specimens may be useful for patients with respiratory failure in second week of illness.

Test choice is determined by local test capacity (including availability of supplies).

Positive Result: Confirmed or probable diagnosis of COVID-19. Limited value for confirming positive results by a second test, regardless of method used.

Negative Result: If performed by Ag RDT or rapid isothermal NAAT, consideration should be given to confirming with a standard NAAT, if suspicion for COVID-19 remains high.

Abbreviations: Ag, antigen; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; EUA, Emergency Use Authorization; NAAT, nucleic acid amplification test; NP, nasopharyngeal; RDT, rapid diagnostic test; RT-PCR, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.