Early Infection
Mid Infection
Late Infection
Post Infection
Which covid-19 test
is best for me?
Depending on where a person is in the COVID-19 infection cycle, the answer comes down to understanding when each test works best. Wind the clock to see when each of our five assays are best used.
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Time periods for infection stages are estimates based on the body’s typical response to viral infection. ARCHITECT, Alinity, ID NOW, Abbott m2000 RealTime and BinaxNOW are trademarks of Abbott in various jurisdictions.
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Phase:
Early infection
The virus is in the body. COVID-19’s viral RNA can be detected by molecular tests using nucleic acid amplification technologies, allowing lab technicians to take a very small sample of RNA and amplify it.
TESTS
These tests detect the virus’s nucleic acids (RNA).
Portable rapid molecular tests are often found in doctor’s offices, urgent care centers and the like. Using nasal, nasopharyngeal and throat swabs, samples are tested, with results in 13 minutes or less.
ID NOW
These larger testing instruments can be found in labs that run patient samples and are designed to process up to 480–1,080 tests a day.
m2000 RealTime System
See how portable testING workS
About 1–14 Days
Time periods for infection stages are estimates based on the body’s typical response to viral infection.
The Abbott SARS-CoV-2 tests run on the Abbott m2000 RealTime System, ID NOW™, Alinity i, ARCHITECT and Alinity m platforms are for in vitro diagnostic use under the FDA emergency use authorization only. These tests are only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostic tests for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.
Alinity m
See how portable TESTING workS
SEE HOW LAB-BASED TESTING WORKS
The following tests have received FDA Emergency Use Authorization and have not been FDA cleared or approved: RealTime SARS-CoV-2 test, ID NOW COVID-19 test, SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay and are only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner. The RealTime SARS-CoV-2 test and ID NOW COVID-19 tests have been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, and the SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay has been authorized only for the detection of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, and not for any other viruses or pathogens.
ARCHITECT, Alinity, ID NOW, Abbott m2000 RealTime and BinaxNOW are trademarks of Abbott in various jurisdictions.
LEARN
More on ID NOW
More on m2000
More on Alinity m
Alinity i
ARCHITECT i1000SR and i2000SR
Lateral flow test
Time periods for infection stages are estimates based on the body’s typical response to viral infection. The following tests have received FDA Emergency Use Authorization and have not been FDA cleared or approved: RealTime SARS-CoV-2 test, ID NOW COVID-19 test, SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay and are only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner. The RealTime SARS-CoV-2 test and ID NOW COVID-19 tests have been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, and the SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay has been authorized only for the detection of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, and not for any other viruses or pathogens. ARCHITECT, Alinity, ID NOW, Abbott m2000 RealTime and BinaxNOW are trademarks of Abbott in various jurisdictions.
Mid infection
As the virus multiplies, the body begins to react to the viral antigens, possibly resulting in symptoms. These antigens will rise, peak and fall off around two weeks from the onset of infection.
About 2–14 Days
m
TEST
BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag is a rapid antigen test that is highly portable, reliable and easy-to-use to for mass testing of active infections.
BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card
Time periods for infection stages are estimates based on the body’s typical response to viral infection. Binax NOW Covid-19 Ag is only available in the United States.
Time periods for infection stages are estimates based on the body’s typical response to viral infection. Binax NOW Covid-19 Ag is only available in the United States. ARCHITECT, Alinity, ID NOW, Abbott m2000 RealTime and BinaxNOW are trademarks of Abbott in various jurisdictions.
Late infection
Your body is fighting COVID-19. Your immune system is producing antibodies, which can last 1-8 weeks. Antibodies are proteins in the blood produced in response to a virus-causing antigen.
Abbott is evaluating a potential IgM serology (blood) antibody test.
About 1–8 Weeks
post infection
You’re starting to feel better as your body continues to fight off infection. As it does, your body replaces the short-lived IgM antibodies with long-lasting IgG antibodies that may aid in protective immunity. Although science is collecting information about SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, in other viruses IgG antibodies can remain for months to years after infection.
Alinity i and ARCHITECT i1000SR and i2000SR: Serology (blood) IgG tests run on larger testing instruments, found in labs.
Abbott launches COVID-19 antibody test on ARCHITECT
Abbott’s SARS-CoV-2 Immunoassay Information
Weeks to months later
More on
Tests
Delivering new tests so people can receive the critical results they need is our top priority. Until this fight is over, we will never quit. More information on Abbott’s response and testing technologies is here.
See how Abbott is supporting frontline workers and families.
FAQ
COVID-19 testing questions
UPDATES
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