Time For Pcr Covid Test. By using reverse transcriptase. The current average turnaround time on results is about 8 hours from when the sample arrives at the lab Hong Kong is one of the few.
PCR tests are generally considered better at detecting the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and are currently the gold standard for diagnosis of COVID-19. The real time RTPCR technique is highly sensitive and specific and can deliver a reliable diagnosis in as little as three hours though laboratories take on average between six and eight hours. The CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase RTPCR Diagnostic Panel detects the SARS-CoV-2 virus in upper and lower respiratory specimens.
PCRs are widely used in the infectious disease community.
In early 2020 CDC developed its first laboratory test kit for use in testing patient specimens for SARS-CoV-2. Using nasopharyngeal and throat swab RT-PCR as the reference standard the prevalence of COVID-19 diagnosed by nasopharyngeal and throat swab RT-PCR was 95 19200 compared to 9 18200 with saliva. While early research on asymptomatic transmission has shown that some asymptomatic individuals will test positive two to three days before developing symptoms we would definitely not expect a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19 one day after exposure. The 3 types of COVID-19 tests are a molecular PCR test antigen rapid test and an antibody blood test.