About
Viral tests check samples from your respiratory system (such as swabs of the inside of the nose) to tell you if you currently have an infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. 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 to analyze, a process that takes 1-2 days once received by the lab. The value of a viral test is to inform an individual of infection status so they can anticipate course of illness and take action to prevent transmission. COVID-19 may be present before symptoms show up, the test can tell if someone has the virus early on. By scaling viral testing to test vast groups in a population, employees can initiate treatment early and can immediately self-quarantine to minimize the spread.
