2 Types Of Testing Look For COVID-19 Infections New And Old

By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Testing is critical to controlling the coronavirus and eventually easing restrictions that have halted daily life for most Americans.

While many laboratories and companies are now offering tests, there are still only two main types available. The nasal or oral swab test tells you if you have an active viral infection right now. A separate blood test tells you if you were previously exposed to the virus and fought off the infection.

Most COVID-19 testing currently involves looking for the active virus. But antibody testing could eventually answer a key recovery question: who is immune and can safely return to work.