Molecular tests are far superior to rapid antigen tests—and now you can get them for home use. Amanda Blum is a freelancer who writes about smart home technology, gardening, and food preservation.

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.

With Omicron subvariants continuing to evolve and spread, more and more people are testing positive for COVID across the US and Illinois. As of the latest update, eight counties in Illinois were ...

China continues to ease coronavirus-related travel protocols as the country announced inbound international tourists will no longer need to provide a negative PCR test, starting on April 29. According ...

Ducharme is a contributor to TIME. A medical worker performs a COVID-19 test at a screening center in Saint-Denis, France, on Nov. 4, 2020. Ducharme is a contributor to TIME. If you had COVID-19 ...

PCR processes are the diagnostic gold standard when it comes to identifying coronavirus infections. Unlike rapid antigen tests, they function even in the case of a low viral load and detect the ...

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet officially over, it appears to be tapering off worldwide. Earlier this month, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that he ...