A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test detects genetic material from a pathogen or abnormal cell sample. Ways of collecting samples include a nasal swab, a saliva swab, or taking a sample of blood.

Though PCR testing has been established as the gold standard for COVID-19 detection, it remains less accessible than rapid antigen testing, since most PCR tests typically take longer to return results ...

At-home coronavirus tests are in high demand amidst the Omicron surge. You can buy "rapid" antigen tests, or PCR tests, which are the "gold standard" and are usually processed in a lab. Some states ...

A widely shared claim on social media has brought the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's decision to retire its PCR test for COVID-19 back into the spotlight. "CDC Withdraws Use of PCR Test ...