Table 3.

Comparison of different testing options for COVID-19.

DESCRIPTION	NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION TEST	ANTIGENT TEST	ANTIBODY TEST
Test Type	Viral, molecular	Viral, immunoassay	Serologic, immunoassay
Purpose	Diagnostic	Diagnostic, screening	Screening
Intended Use	Detect current infection	Detect current infection	Detect prior or recent infection
Analyte Detected	Viral RNA	Viral structural proteins	Virus-specific antibodies
Sensitivity	Generally high	Moderate to high	Moderate to high
Specificity	High	High	High
Test Complexity	Differs by test	Relatively easy to use	Relatively easy to use
Turnaround Time	15 min to > 2 d	15 min to > 2 d	15 min to > 2 d
Operating Temperature	Need thermal cycling—some are isothermal	Ambient	Ambient
Results Presentation	Quantitative or qualitative	Visual or instrument read	Visual or instrument read
Authorized for Point-of-careUse	Some tests	Most tests	Some tests
Authorized for Use at Home	Very few, sample collection is possible at home for many tests	Some tests	No
Suggested Test Time	1 d after infection to 14 d from symptom onset	5-7 d from symptom onset	≥ 15 d from symptom onset
Cost per Test	Moderate (≈ $100-$200)	Low (≈ $5-$50)	Moderate (≈ $100-$200)
Authorized Specimen Type	Nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, nasal, sputum, saliva	Nasopharyngeal, nasal	Whole blood, serum, plasma, fingerstick blood
Transport Medium	Viral transport medium or saline—nothing needed for some tests	Extraction medium	Anticoagulant—nothing needed for fingerstick tests
Disadvantages	High requirements for operators and laboratory conditions. High cost, complexity, and turnaround time	Less sensitive in the early stage of disease	Lower sensitivity and specificity. Cross-reactivity. Long window period