Test Texas Now

Viral tests check samples from your respiratory system (such as swabs of the inside of the nose) to tell you if you currently have an infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Some tests are point-of-care tests, meaning results may be available at the testing site in less than an hour. Other tests must be sent to a laboratory to analyze, a process that takes 1-2 days once received by the lab. The value of a viral test is to inform an individual of infection status so they can anticipate course of illness and take action to prevent transmission. COVID-19 may be present before symptoms show up, the test can tell if someone has the virus early on. By scaling viral testing to test vast groups in a population, employees can initiate treatment early and can immediately self-quarantine to minimize the spread.

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