As attention begins to shift to re-opening states and provinces, testing is a key to understanding the COVID-19 pandemic. Until an effective vaccine is available, testing for COVID-19 can help slow the spread of the disease.
For detailed information and guidance on testing, see our Testing for COVID-19 Fact Sheet.
The two primary methods are testing for the molecular presence of the disease and testing for antibodies (serological testing). Molecular tests are more capable of informing whether you have active virus while serological tests inform whether you have been exposed to or have some level of immunity to the virus.
We support the recommendation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that results from serologic testing alone should not be used to diagnose or exclude COVID-19 infection or to inform infection status; such determinations should also include molecular testing and an evaluation by a healthcare provider.
Visit www.iaff.org/coronavirus for the latest information and resources on COVID-19.
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