Understanding COVID-19 Testing

Quick and reliable testing allows frontline health workers to respond effectively to what the World Health Organization (WHO) has characterised as a pandemic, thus saving lives and safeguarding public health. In a speech, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General said, “all countries must take a comprehensive approach. But the most effective way to prevent infections and save lives is by breaking the chains of transmission. And to do that, you must test and isolate. You cannot fight a fire blindfolded. And we cannot stop this pandemic if we don’t know who is infected. We have a simple message for all countries: test, test, test.” Roche Diagnostics explains how COVID-19 testing work and when to use which SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test.