Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. They infect the respiratory system. Common signs of infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, an infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death. 2019 Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is a relatively new strain of coronavirus.

PCR tests are the “gold standard” for COVID-19 tests. They are a type of nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), which are more likely to detect the virus than antigen tests. Your sample will usually be taken by a healthcare provider and transported to a laboratory for testing.