Viral Tests

Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT)

A type of viral diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. NAATs detect genetic material (nucleic acids). NAATs for SARS-CoV-2 specifically identify the RNA (ribonucleic acid) sequences that comprise the genetic material of the virus. NAATs can reliably detect small amounts of SARS-CoV-2 and are unlikely to return a false-negative result of SARS-CoV-2. NAATs can use many different methods to amplify nucleic acids and detect the virus, including reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). ⁴