Schedule Your COVID-19 Drive-Through Test in Austin, TX

You CANNOT eat or drink 30 min before your test.

PCR tests are an accurate and reliable method for identifying COVID-19. And because they are often able to make diagnoses before symptoms of infection occur, PCR tests play a crucial role in preventing the spread of the disease.

PCR means polymerase chain reaction. It’s a test to detect genetic material from a specific organism, such as a virus. The test detects the presence of a virus if you have the virus at the time of the test. The test could also detect fragments of the virus even after you are no longer infected.

The best time to take a PCR test is when you have had a known or suspected exposure to someone with Covid-19 or are experiencing symptoms, and you want to find out if you have a coronavirus infection.

A type of diagnostic test that checks to see if you’re currently infected. The test looks for proteins (antigens) in a sample taken from your nose or throat. Antigen tests are faster than PCR tests, but they are less accurate and have a higher risk of false positives (meaning that they’re more likely to say you have the infection when you don’t) and false negatives (meaning they’re more likely to say you don’t have the infection when you do). This may also be called a rapid test or rapid diagnostic test.