Laboratory and Testing Resources

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COVID-19 Test Characteristics

With the ever-expanding number of COVID-19 tests available, it can be difficult to compare them and determine which are best suited for your use. To assist with this effort, APHL has compiled a list of many molecular tests and their key characteristics, such as the specimen type(s) they support, performance, platform footprint and lab vs POC use.

Below are brief summaries of a select number of tests; an expanded list can be viewed online or downloaded (updated 4/5/21).

Note: To facilitate the selection of the proper standard codes when reporting the results of these tests CDC has published a LOINC to IVD Mapping tool. Learn more about this tool in the "Informatics HL7 Messaging" section, above.

Test	Manufactuer	Complexity	Throughput
Panther Fusion® SARS-CoV-2 Assay	Hologic®, Inc.	High	1,150 specimens/24 hr
CDC 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel (CDC)	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention	High	21-22 specimens/5 hr
Abbott RealTime SARS-CoV-2 assay	Abbott Molecular	High	470 specimens/24 hr
TaqPath™ COVID-19 Combo Kit	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.	High	94 specimens/3 hr 382 specimens/6.5 hr
cobas® SARS-CoV-2	Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. (RMS)	High	6800: 384 specimens/8 hr 8800: 1,056 specimens/8 hr

Page Last Reviewed: August 2021

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Laboratory and Testing Resources

COVID-19 Test Characteristics