Testing at FIU Clinical Sites
Students, faculty and staff also have the following resources:
Types of tests
Two kinds of tests are available for COVID-19: viral tests and antibody tests.
A viral test tells you if you have a current infection. There are two methods of testing:
- Standard Molecular Testing (RT-PCR), rapid or regular: This common coronavirus (COVID-19) test checks samples from your respiratory system, such as a swab from the inside of your nose, to see if you are currently infected. These viral tests are sent to a laboratory for analysis and results can take several days.
- Antigen (Rapid COVID-19) Testing: An antigen, or rapid COVID-19 test, is another type of diagnostic test and can provide results in less than an hour. Positive results are usually highly accurate but negative results may need to be confirmed with a standard, molecular test.
An antibody test might tell you if you had a past infection.
If you want to know more about the differences in these tests, please visit FDA Testing Basics.
Who should get tested?
- People who have symptoms of COVID-19.
The following is a list of symptoms associated with COVID-19 (but there may be others):
- Fever (temperature of 100.4°F or higher) or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
In general, having a cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, or new loss of taste or smell or having more than one of any of the symptoms above would increase the urgency for getting tested for COVID-19 due to an increased likelihood that the illness is COVID-19.
Visit the CDC website for more information.