Overview of Testing for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

This document provides a summary of considerations and current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations regarding SARS-CoV-2 testing strategy.  The CDC recommendations for SARS-CoV-2 testing have been developed based on what is currently known about COVID-19 and are subject to change as additional information becomes available.

Viral Testing

Authorized assays for viral testing include those that detect SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid or antigen. Viral (nucleic acid or antigen) tests check samples from the respiratory system (such as nasal or oral swabs or saliva) to determine whether an infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is present. Viral tests are recommended to diagnose acute infection of both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, to guide contact tracing, treatment options, and isolation requirements Some tests are point-of-care tests, meaning results may be available at the testing site in less than an hour. Other tests must be sent to a laboratory, a process that may take at least 1-2 days.

For more information on testing for SARS-CoV-2 see the Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens and Biosafety FAQs for handling and processing specimens from possible cases.

Antibody Testing

FDA has not authorized using antibody tests to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection, and CDC does not currently recommend using antibody testing as the sole basis for diagnosis of acute infection. In certain situations, serologic assays may be used to support clinical assessment of persons who present late in their illnesses when used in conjunction with viral detection tests.  In addition, if a person is suspected to have a post-infectious syndrome caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection (e.g., Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children; MIS-C), serologic assays may be used.

Serologic assays for SARS-CoV-2 infection, are an important tool for surveillance and epidemiologic studies, such as understanding the transmission dynamic of the virus in the general population. Unlike direct viral detection methods, such as nucleic acid amplification or antigen detection tests that can detect acutely infected persons, antibody tests help determine whether the individual being tested was previously infected—even if that person never showed symptoms.

CDC Mitigation Protocols

CDC recommends the following measures to mitigate the spread of the virus and to protect people at increased risk of severe illness:  social distancing, wearing a mask when social distancing is not possible, avoiding crowds, avoiding indoor crowded spaces, and washing or sanitizing hands frequently.

Considerations for SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostic (Molecular or Antigen) Testing

• If you have symptoms of COVID-19:
  • If your symptoms are mild:
    • Your healthcare provider (physician, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, etc.) may advise a SARS-CoV-2 test.
    • If you test positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection or do not get tested, you should self-isolate for at least 10 days after symptom onset and resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and with improvement of other symptoms.
    • If you live with a person at increased risk of severe illness (for example an elderly relative or other individuals with underlying conditions), take special precautions in the home to protect that individual according to CDC guidelines.
  • If your symptoms worsen while you are isolating, or become moderate/severe, such as shortness of breath or severe fatigue, contact your healthcare provider immediately or seek emergency care.
  • If you test positive, you do not need to repeat a test for at least 3 months.
  • You do not need a follow-up negative test to return to work or school, as long as
    • You did not require hospitalization, AND
    • It has been at least at least 10 days after symptom onset and resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and with improvement of other symptoms.
• If you have been in close contact (less than 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection and do not have symptoms.​
  • You need a test. Please consult with your healthcare provider or public health official. Testing is recommended for all close contacts of persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Because of the potential for asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, it is important that contacts of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection be quickly identified and tested. Pending test results, you should self-quarantine/isolate at home and stay separated from household members to the extent possible and use a separate bedroom and bathroom, if available.
    • A single negative test does not mean you will remain negative at any time point after that test.
    • Even if you have a negative test, you should still self-isolate for 14 days.
  • If you cannot self-isolate, or you are a critical infrastructure worker that must work, wear a mask, physically distance, avoid crowds and indoor crowded places, wash your hands frequently, and monitor yourself for symptoms.
  • If you live with a person at increased risk of severe illness (for example an elderly person or other individuals with underlying medical conditions), take special precautions in the home to protect that individual according to CDC guidelines.
  • Healthcare providers in close contact of a person with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection while using recommended personal protective equipment, do not need to be tested
• If you do not have COVID-19 symptoms and have not been in close contact with someone known to have SARS-CoV-2 infection (meaning being within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes).
  • You do not need a test unless recommended or required by your healthcare provider or public health official.
  • If you are tested, you should self-quarantine at home until your test results are known, and then adhere to your healthcare provider’s advice.
  • A negative test does not mean you will remain negative at any time point after that test.
• If you are in a high SARS-CoV-2 transmission zone and attended a public or private gathering of more than 10 people (without universal mask wearing and/or physical distancing).
  • Your healthcare provider or public health official may advise a SARS-CoV-2 test.
  • If you are tested, you should self-isolate at home until your test results are known, and then adhere to your healthcare provider’s advice.
  • A negative test does not mean you will remain negative at any time point after that test.
  • Even if you have a negative test, you should wear a mask, physically distance, avoid crowds and indoor crowded places, wash your hands frequently, and monitor yourself for symptoms.
  • Take special precautions in the home to protect any person(s) with increased risk of severe illness according to CDC guidelines.
• If you work in a nursing home,
  • You will need testing as part of a nursing home’s plan to open or reopen, if not previously tested.
  • You need to be tested if you are symptomatic. You must self-isolate and not go to work until your test results are known. If you test positive, you should self-isolate for at least 10 days after symptom onset and resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and with improvement of other symptoms.
  • You will need testing if there is an outbreak in your facility, and repeat testing at regular intervals if your initial test result was negative until the outbreak is over.
  • You will need serial testing based on your county percent test positivity rate.
  • Results of testing will be used to inform infection control interventions, such as resident placement decisions and work exclusions.
  • Follow any additional guidance from public health officials and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
• If you live in or receive care in a nursing home,
  • You will need testing as part of a nursing home’s plan to open or reopen, if not previously tested.
  • You need to be tested if you are symptomatic. You must be isolated until your test results are known.  If you test positive, you should be isolated for at least 10 days after symptom onset and resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and with improvement of other symptoms.
  • You will also need to be tested if there is an outbreak in your facility. This will need to be repeated at regular intervals if your initial test result was negative, until the outbreak is over.
  • You may also need to be tested if you leave the facility on a regular basis (e.g. for dialysis or frequent medical/other appointments).
  • Results of testing will be used to inform infection control interventions, such as resident and patient placement decisions.
  • Follow any additional guidance from public health officials and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
• If you are a critical infrastructure worker, healthcare worker, or first responder.
  • You may need to get tested according to your employer’s guidelines.
  • Even if you have a negative test, you should wear a mask when you cannot physically distance during your workday, avoid crowds and indoor crowded places, wash your hands frequently, and monitor yourself for symptoms.
• For public health reasons, your public health official(s) or healthcare provider may advise specific people, or groups of people, to be tested. You should follow this advice. It is important to realize that you can be infected and spread the virus but feel totally well and have no symptoms.
  • Your healthcare provider or public health official may recommend that you are tested before being admitted to the hospital or before a procedure (e.g., pregnant people admitted for labor and delivery, surgery). This testing is to protect healthcare personnel and other patients.
  • In areas where there are a small number of new cases and limited spread, your public health department may request a small number of asymptomatic “healthy people” to be tested.
  • If there is significant spread of the virus in your community, your public health department may request significant numbers of asymptomatic “healthy people” to be tested in order to help stop the spread of the virus.
  • Certain settings can experience rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2. This is particularly true for settings with people at increased risk of severe illness in close quarters for extended periods of time.
    • Approaches for early identification of infected individuals include, initial testing of everyone in the setting, periodic (e.g., weekly) testing of everyone in the setting, and testing of new or returning entrants into the setting.