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    How Reliable Are COVID-19 Tests? Depends Which One You Mean

    What types of testing are available for the coronavirus? And how accurate are they? Here's a handy guide to the field.
    by Richard Harris May 01, 2020 3 minutes
    Testing for COVID-19 antibody testing center at Steve's 9th Street Market in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on April 25.

    Testing for coronavirus has been very much in the news. The first and most urgent focus is on increasing access to tests to diagnose people with current infections. But now other tests are appearing as well. Antibody tests, which can identify people with signs of past infection are starting to be available. And a third type of test is on the way.

    Here's a quick guide to sorting out the pluses and minuses of each of each type of test.

    Diagnostic or PCR test

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