Be proACTive.
Take ACTion.
And make an impACT
against COVID-19.

Making the first move against the pandemic
can make the most difference for the population. ACT empowers you and your community to do just that.

ACT against COVID-19

The vaccine is an incredible development in the fight against COVID-19. However, it is unknown how long the vaccine will provide personal protection, or if it will fully protect against new variants. Public Health officials agree: we are not out of the woods yet.

We still need ongoing, comprehensive testing to:
  • combat variants
  • curb outbreaks
  • safeguard the unvaccinated
  • understand spread in communities
  • identify and address COVID-19 “long-haul” conditions
  • uncover hidden pandemics
  • support ongoing wellness
  • return to life responsibly

Mobilized by Quest Diagnostics, ACT (the Alliance for Comprehensive Testing) is committed to educating the public on the value of comprehensive COVID-19 testing strategies, and how testing can be used to get back to daily life responsibly.

Raise awareness about testing options.
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In the news

Stay smart. Stay healthy.
Review the latest news and resources regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Returning to life responsibly
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L.A. County schools see 30% decrease in COVID cases among children as testing, masking protocols implemented
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Pre-flight COVID-19 testing ‘significantly’ reduces risk of infection on planes, study says
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Addressing the hidden pandemics
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Medicare Mortality Rates Reveal COVID-19 Racial Care Disparities
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See what’s trending

Stay informed with the latest Twitter posts regarding the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Testing 101

Testing for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is more than looking for a “positive” or “negative” result. In fact, the CDC recommends testing for three objectives—diagnosis, screening, and surveillance—and each requires a different testing strategy.

PCR Testing*
Antigen Testing
Antibody Testing
Diagnosis

Identify infected people with symptoms and/or people at risk with known or suspected exposure.

Primary use
To positively diagnose COVID-19 infection
PCR Testing*
Primary use
To positively diagnose COVID-19 infection
Support role
To use as a reliable
first-line test when PCR testing is not available. PCR testing still required when antigen test is negative1
Antigen Testing
Support role
To use as a reliable
first-line test when PCR testing is not available. PCR testing still required when antigen test is negative1
Support role
To use for clinical assessment in people who are 9-14 days after illness onset4
Antibody Testing
Support role
To use for clinical assessment in people who are 9-14 days after illness onset4
Screening

Identify people who are infected but don’t have symptoms and people without known or suspected exposure.

Support role
To confirm infection status if antigen results come back as positive1
PCR Testing*
Support role
To confirm infection status if antigen results come back as positive1
Primary use
To conduct repeat (every 3-7 days in the case of an outbreak) and rapid testing in high-risk group settings when PCR tests are not feasible/timely3
Antigen Testing
Primary use
To conduct repeat (every 3-7 days in the case of an outbreak) and rapid testing in high-risk group settings when PCR tests are not feasible/timely3
Support role
To identify people with antibodies who may not need to participate in antigen/PCR screening programs
Antibody Testing
Support role
To identify people with antibodies who may not need to participate in antigen/PCR screening programs
Surveillance

Detect possible prevalence of COVID-19 within a population.

Support role
To test numerous specimens at once. Negative results can
be applied to all specimens, whereas positive results require individual specimen testing2
PCR Testing*
Support role
To test numerous specimens at once. Negative results can
be applied to all specimens, whereas positive results require individual specimen testing2
Antigen Testing
Primary use
To trace spread
through communities by identifying antibodies in blood, which indicate a previous infection
Antibody Testing
Primary use
To trace spread
through communities by identifying antibodies in blood, which indicate a previous infection
*PCR is one of several types of molecular tests to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA that have received FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

Dive deeper into the role of these tests.

Learn more

Read “Returning to Daily Life Responsibly” to learn more about comprehensive testing.

Download: whitepaper

Good things come to those who wait ACT

Do you have a personal testing plan yet? Most people won’t have access to the COVID-19 vaccine until prioritized populations, like health care workers, receive a dose. However, making a personal testing plan can help slow the spread of COVID-19. Learn about the various testing options available in your community.

Learn more

Good things come to those who wait ACT

Do you have a personal testing plan yet? Most people won’t have access to the COVID-19 vaccine until prioritized populations, like health care workers, receive a dose. However, making a personal testing plan can help slow the spread of COVID-19. Learn about the various testing options available in your community.

Learn more

Alliance members

ACT Against COVID members are committed to educating the public about the value of comprehensive COVID-19 testing solutions.

Learn more about the Alliance.
See FAQs

Interested in joining the Alliance?

Contact us

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Want to learn more about the various testing options and their use? Sign up to receive the latest news and insights.

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Use the Right Test at the Right Time
Your testing plan
Make first selection
Your testing plan
For more information:

CDC overview on COVID-19 testing

Lists of EUA-authorized tests for SARS-CoV-2

Back to School Protocols
Back to Work Protocols
Calculate Cost of Screening
COVID-19 Testing Fact Sheet

ACT Tool Form

Use the Right Test at the Right Time

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This tool provides additional detail when used on a desktop or laptop computer.

For more information:

CDC overview on COVID-19 testing

Lists of EUA-authorized tests for SARS-CoV-2

This tool is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The diagnosis or treatment of any disease or condition may be based on personal history, family history, symptoms, a physical examination, laboratory test results, and other information considered important by your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about the meaning of your test results and before you stop, start, or change any medication or treatment.

The antibody tests (sometimes known as the serology tests or IgG tests) are intended for use as an aid in identifying individuals with an adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2, indicating recent or prior infection. Results are for the detection of SARS CoV-2 antibodies. IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 are generally detectable in blood several days after initial infection, although the duration of time antibodies are present post-infection is not well characterized. At this time, it is unknown for how long antibodies persist following infection and if the presence of antibodies confers protective immunity. Individuals may have detectable virus present for several weeks following seroconversion. Negative results do not preclude acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. If acute infection is suspected, molecular testing for SARS-CoV-2 is necessary. The antibody test should not be used to diagnose acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. False positive results for the antibody test may occur due to cross-reactivity from pre-existing antibodies or other possible causes.

The antibody tests and the molecular tests (together “All tests”) have not been FDA cleared or approved;
All tests have been authorized by FDA under EUAs for use by authorized laboratories;
The antibody tests have been authorized only for the detection of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens;
The molecular tests have been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens; and,
All tests are only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.

Antibody testing determines the presence of antibodies that recognize markers of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, indicating that the body previously had been infected. In many diseases, the presence of antibodies confers immunity, but scientists have not verified if this is true for COVID-19. See the glossary section of our website to learn about the difference between Nucleocapsid Protein Antibody Tests and Spike Protein Antibody Tests.

PCR testing is used to accurately detect active infections. It is a type of molecular test and considered the gold standard for testing. PCR is the most commonly used nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT).

Antigen testing is used to identify active infections. It expands testing capacity as a fast, reliable, and affordable screening and diagnostic option.