U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

GTR Home > > Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA Detection, PCR, Varies

Interpretation

Sample Negative Report

Help

Not provided

Sample Positive Report

Help

Not provided

Comments about the test interpretation (e.g. clinical implication of test results)

A "Detected" result indicates that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA is present and suggests the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Test result should always be considered in the context of patient's clinical history, physical examination, and epidemiologic exposures when making the final diagnosis. An "Undetected" result indicates that SARS-CoV-2 is not present in the patient's specimen. However, this result may be influenced by the stage of the infection, quality, and type of the specimen collected for testing. Result should be correlated with patient’s history and clinical presentation. An "Indeterminate" result suggests that the patient may be infected with a variant SARS-CoV-2 or SARS-related coronavirus. Additional testing with an alternative molecular method may be considered if the patient does not have signs or symptoms of COVID-19. An "Inconclusive" result indicates that the presence or absence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the specimen could not be determined with certainty after repeat testing in the laboratory, possibly due to RT-PCR inhibition. Submission of a new specimen for testing is recommended. Sequence analyses have predicted that this assay will detect the circulating variants reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/science-and-research/scientific-brief-emerging-variants.html), such as the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7), South Africa (B.1.351), and Brazil (P.1) variants.

Research

Is research allowed on the sample after clinical testing is complete?Help
Not provided

Clinical resources

Practice guidelines

  • NICE, 2024
    UK NICE Guideline NG191, COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing COVID-19, 2024
  • PAGAA, 2022
    Guidance for COVID-19 and People With HIV, 2022

Consumer resources

IMPORTANT NOTE: NIH does not independently verify information submitted to the GTR; it relies on submitters to provide information that is accurate and not misleading. NIH makes no endorsements of tests or laboratories listed in the GTR. GTR is not a substitute for medical advice. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.