A recent survey in the United States revealed that it takes an average of 4 days to receive a definitive SARS-CoV-2 lab test result after a nasal swab.
Lab-based tests are much more reliable than rapid, on-the-spot tests for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. They use a technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to “amplify” the minuscule amounts of viral genetic material in a sample.But the tests are time-consuming, increasing the risk of viral transmission while people wait for their results to come back from the lab.
Stay informed with live updates on the current COVID-19 outbreak and visit our coronavirus hub for more advice on prevention and treatment.The new test uses a different technology called CRISPR, which the.