How Accurate Are The Coronavirus Diagnostic And Antibody Tests? Coronavirus Antibody Test

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, senior director of global scientific affairs for Luminex Corporation, which manufactures a pair of PRC tests and has submitted an application to the FDA for emergency approval of a new antigen test.

Experts generally agree that the RT-PCR tests are more accurate and useful than antigen and antibody tests, which are better used as confirmatory tools.

Dunbar told Healthline that some testing labs are using multiple tests to anticipate shortages on testing products. They’re also using the quicker tests when demand is high and the slower but more accurate tests on weekends or during slower times.

Wojewoda said that while some tests promise quicker results than others, the biggest limiting factor to turnaround results is shortages of reagents — the chemicals used to do the testing.

“I’m not looking for a new test,” she said. “Those on the market are as accurate and fast as they need to be. We have the instruments we need to test. We just need more stuff to do it with.”

As with most other things regarding the novel coronavirus, pathologists and testing labs are learning about COVID-19 on the fly, said Dunbar.

“Never in my career have I seen anything like this, where the public is discussing and analyzing the data at the same time as the researchers,” she said. “We’re basing our response on past knowledge of other viruses, but as we like to say, the bugs don’t read the book. What happened in the past can help us prepare, but things will continue to evolve.”