Currently, a genetic (PCR – polymerase chain reaction) test is performed by laboratories such as MDS, to test for the presence of the virus. A nasopharyngeal swab is use to collect the sample and this is sent to a laboratory for testing.

Figure 4: PCR testing for COVID-10
(Hadaya J et al (2020). JAMA. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.5388)