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APHL/CDC Public Health Laboratory Call Summaries and APHL Lab Alerts
(APHL Member Access Only, Sign-in Required)

 

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.

  
  
  
Throughput
Panther Fusion® SARS-CoV-2 AssayHologic®, Inc.High

1,150 specimens/24 hr

CDC 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel (CDC)Centers for Disease Control and PreventionHigh

21-22 specimens/5 hr

Abbott RealTime SARS-CoV-2 assayAbbott MolecularHigh

470 specimens/24 hr

TaqPath™ COVID-19 Combo KitThermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.High

94 specimens/3 hr

382 specimens/6.5 hr

cobas® SARS-CoV-2Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. (RMS)High

6800: 384 specimens/8 hr

8800: 1,056 specimens/8 hr

Page Last Reviewed: August 2021