As COVID-19 Testing Slows, So Does the Infection Rate

The percent of positive tests for the SARS-CoV-2 betacoronavirus that causes COVID-19 continues to decrease in the U.S.

On October 23, 2021, the U.S. CDC reported COVID-19 NAATs (nucleic acid amplification tests) that are positive (percent positivity) results decreased from the previous week. The 7-day average of percent positivity from NAATs is now 5.2%.

And the 7-day average number of tests reported for October 8–October 14, 2021, was 1,416,658, a decrease of 7.4% from the previous seven days.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, the CDC's Data Tracker has reported over 607 million RT-PCR diagnostic tests results.

Additionally, the U.S. FDA confirmed on October 22, 2021; it had authorized 419 coronavirus diagnostic tests during the pandemic.

These innovative tests include molecular, antibody, and antigen tests.

Furthermore, FDA authorizations can be used with home-collected samples. There is a molecular prescription at-home test, antigen prescription at-home tests, OTC at-home antigen tests, and OTC molecular tests.

However, SARS-CoV-2 virus antibody tests are not validated to evaluate specific immunity or COVID-19 vaccine protection.

Visit the FDA website for a list of authorized COVID-19 diagnostic methods.