Answering Questions about Coronavirus Testing

Dec. 3, 2020

To help everyone understand the latest, science-based thinking about COVID-19 testing, Shape pulled together government and medical resources and talked to experts.

The article answers many common questions: What’s the difference between a PCR test and an antigen (rapid) test? How about an antibody test?

The Shape article notes, “Your coronavirus PCR test results are most likely to be accurate if you’re tested around five to eight days after exposure and about three days after showing symptoms, according to the [Annals of Internal Medicine] analysis.”

As for the cost of testing, and who will pay for it, Richard Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease physician in Akron, Ohio, and a professor of internal medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University, commented to Shape about possible scenarios. If you have insurance, calling the number on the back of your insurance card is a good place to start, he said.