Your COVID-19 test questions answered

Testing for COVID-19 can give much-needed information to help understand and manage this viral infection on an individual, local, national and global level.

NPS MedicineWise has published a new article about COVID-19 testing, which explains the different types of tests available in Australia and answers people’s frequently asked questions.
“The most reliable way to test someone for a current COVID-19 infection is with what we call a PCR test, which is the test being administered at the COVID-19 clinics around the country right now,” medical adviser at NPS MedicineWise and GP Dr Jill Thistlethwaite said.
“A PCR test can detect the virus that causes COVID-19 if it’s present on a swab, usually taken from the back of your nose and throat.
“However, medical tests are rarely 100 per cent accurate and there have been people with COVID-19 whose initial PCR test results were negative, so it is important to follow your health professional’s advice. This may still include a period of isolation even if your test result is negative.”
Another kind of test is a serology test, also known as an antibody test, but at the moment these tests have a very limited role.
“A COVID-19 serology test uses a blood sample to help indicate if you’ve had a COVID-19 infection in the past. They are not used for diagnosis of a current infection,” Dr Thistlethwaite said.
The infectious disease COVID-19 is caused by a new coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2.
Although the first known cases were reported in December 2019, COVID-19 is a very new disease. Health experts and governments are still learning about the way the virus spreads through the community, and how the body responds to the coronavirus during and after an infection.
Being informed and following the latest evidence-based advice are the best ways to protect you and your family during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ask your GP, pharmacist or other health professional if you have questions about your medicines and COVID-19.
To read the full article, head to nps.org.au/testing-for-covid-19.
For the latest updates on the response to coronavirus in Victoria and what you should do, head to dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus.