Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs)

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (U.S.). Division of Viral Diseases.
• Description:
  Updated June 2, 2021
  
  A Nucleic Acid Amplification Test, or NAAT, is 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 for SARS-CoV-2 test specimens from either the upper or lower respiratory tract. The type of specimen collected when testing for SARS-CoV-2 is based on the test being performed and the manufacturer’s instructions. For initial diagnostic testing for current SARS-CoV-2 infection, CDC recommends collecting and testing an upper respiratory specimen, such as nasopharyngeal, nasal mid-turbinate, or anterior nasal.
  
  The NAAT test procedure works by first amplifying – or making many copies of – the virus’s genetic material that is present in a person’s specimen. Amplifying or increasing the copies of nucleic acids enables NAATs to detect very small amounts of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in a specimen, making these tests highly sensitive for diagnosing COVID-19. In other words, NAATs can reliably detect small amounts of SARS-CoV-2 and are unlikely to return a false-negative result of SARS-CoV-2.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Coronavirus Infections/prevention & Control COVID-19 Vaccines/supply & Distrubition COVID-19/prevention & Control Infection Control Pandemics Vaccination
• Document Type:
  Webpage
• Collection(s):
  Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:516ee45161f4f67a394250e0ddf23906b1d8f938a3c14215436c3a4b0d0f39d1
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/106868/cdc_106868_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 97.71 KB ]