How accurate are coronavirus tests?

Apr 21, 2020

WHO has been encouraging countries to “test, test, test”. Image: REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

Jessica Watson

GP and NIHR Doctoral Senior Clinical Research Fellow,, University of Bristol

Penny Whiting

Associate Professor in Clinical Epidemiology, University of Bristol

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Based on the assumption that swabs tests correctly identify 70% of those with COVID-19 (sensitivity) and 95% of those without COVID-19 (specificity). Image: Jessica Watson/ Penny Whiting

Actual results compared to pre-test probability. Image: Jessica Watson/ Penny Whiting

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