Coronavirus testing, reliability and availability

Pathologist Michael Mina, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says he wouldn't be surprised if coronavirus tests are eventually “sold

at CVS and things like that … potentially to the tune of somebody being able to order a pack of 10 and use one every week.” How would these be useful? They could help “the everyday

individual know their status and be able to have some idea” of whether they have the virus or may be immune to it, Mina says. Again: It gives people a better idea of when they can return to

normal life. It could also help indicate when nationwide social distancing practices can be relaxed. "If we knew what the test results were for each person, we would be having them

individually social distance, which would be better,” Mina says. “But at the moment, we're kind of stuck in this rut” of everyone social distancing, which is “highly detrimental to the

economy and to our lifestyles, and pulls at the social fabric of society, frankly.” HOW ACCURATE ARE THESE TESTS? Some experts question the sensitivity of the new coronavirus tests because

of how quickly they are being funneled through the FDA's emergency approval process. "Obviously we've been wanting more testing,” says William Hanage, associate professor of

epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. And while “the availability of new kits is welcome,” he says the influx “produces a problem of its own.” Because the tests are

made by different manufacturers, they vary slightly, and “the lack of consistency” could “create noise in the data,” Hanage adds. “And we're going to have to figure out how to deal with

that.” As Blank explains: “You can't afford a false negative. Because essentially, you said to a person, ‘Oh, you don't have it,’ when, in fact, they might very well have it. And

we can't really afford a false positive because now you're using resources that are in short supply within the health care system broadly on somebody.” Under normal circumstances,

FDA approval for tests takes around 90 days, Stenzel says; with a public health emergency, the process is much faster. Stenzel says that once the FDA approves a test, the agency continues to

monitor its performance. Manufacturers also are required to report problems back to the FDA. HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED A CORONAVIRUS TEST? Mass testing is a goal of the future, but right now

not everyone needs to be tested, according to the CDC — even those who think they may have COVID-19. For starters, there is no specific treatment. And people with mild cases of the disease

can often recover at home. If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough and shortness of breath, call your health care provider. Your doctor can let you know whether you

need a test and where you can get it. WHAT WILL IT COST ME? New legislation, signed into law March 18, makes coronavirus tests available at no cost. But it's always a good idea to check

with your insurer and health care provider about any out-of-pocket expenses for the test and the doctor's appointment (or telehealth appointment) to determine if you need one. WHAT

HAPPENS IF I TEST POSITIVE? Most people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 are able to recover at home. The CDC has specific guidelines on what home recovery looks like and what you should —

and shouldn't — do if you're sick from the coronavirus. The key is to keep your doctor up to date on symptoms, especially if they worsen. People with more severe illness may need

medical attention. If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 — trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or bluish lips or face — get help

immediately.