COVID-19

Diagnosing COVID-19: Testing is essential


Diagnosing COVID-19 infections
5min
Katherine Soreng, PhD, Connie Mardis, M.Ed
Published on April 29, 2020

There are two types of laboratory tests for COVID-19: Testing for the viral RNA itself is useful for the early diagnosis of both symptomatic patients and individuals with known or potential exposure. Antibody tests will likely prove extremely valuable for surveillance and could potentially provide assessment for immunity, as well as aiding identification of acute infection.

What is COVID-19?

Table of symptoms found in COVID-19 patients.

Differentiating COVID-19 infection

COVID-19 sample collection

Molecular testing for COVID-19

Serology testing for COVID-19 antibody

Sequencing of the COVID-19 virus

A nurse is taking respiratory secretions of a patient through a nasopharyngeal swab.

Testing challenges

Further information


By Katherine Soreng, PhD, Connie Mardis, M.Ed
Connie Mardis holds degrees in Cardiovascular Perfusion and Education, and is a Marketing Educator at Siemens Healthineers. Her work is published mainly in journals, industry and trade publications, and online.