COVID-19 PCR
COVID-19 PCR detects the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 using real-time PCR technology. It is the most accurate test for confirming active COVID-19 infection from a nasal or throat swab.
- DHA-licensed lab
- Includes Doctor Consultation
- Physician-reviewed
- Same Day Collection
24 to 48 hours
Turnaround
Nasopharyngeal Swab
Sample
What the COVID-19 PCR test tells you
The COVID-19 PCR test looks for the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 in a sample taken from the back of the nose or the throat. The laboratory extracts any viral RNA present, converts it to DNA and then copies a chosen stretch of the viral sequence over and over, watching for a signal as the copies accumulate. Because the method multiplies the target rather than simply looking for it, very small amounts of virus can be found, which is what makes PCR the most sensitive routine way of confirming a current infection.
Timing and sampling both influence what the test can see. Viral genetic material is usually most abundant around the time symptoms begin and in the days that follow, so a swab taken very soon after an exposure and before the virus has multiplied can be negative even in someone who goes on to develop the illness. A swab that does not reach far enough back also collects less material. For these reasons a doctor who strongly suspects COVID-19 despite a negative result may repeat the test rather than accept the first one.
Interpreting a positive result needs a little more thought than it first appears. Detection means viral genetic material was present in the sample, which is not quite the same as saying live, transmissible virus is present. Fragments of RNA can linger for a period after someone has recovered and is no longer infectious, which is why a positive result some time after an illness is interpreted alongside symptoms, the date they began and the clinical picture rather than on its own. The test also says nothing about how severe an infection will be, and nothing about immunity, which antibody testing addresses separately. Decisions about isolation and return to work follow the public-health guidance in force where you are, which changes over time, so ask your doctor what currently applies.
Required for symptomatic patients, travel requirements, pre-procedural screening, and contact tracing. Most accurate test for active COVID-19 infection.
- Confirming a current infection
It is the most sensitive routine method for establishing whether SARS-CoV-2 is present. A confirmed answer changes how symptoms are managed.
- Testing after a known exposure
After close contact, testing at the right moment helps establish whether infection followed. Testing too early can miss it.
- Before procedures and admissions
Hospitals and clinics may require a result before surgery or admission to protect other patients and staff.
- Separating overlapping illnesses
Influenza, other respiratory viruses and COVID-19 can look alike. Knowing which one it is can change treatment and precautions.
Reasons your doctor may request the COVID-19 PCR test
Your doctor may order this test for any of the reasons below. Some are routine checks, others follow specific symptoms or an earlier result.
Symptoms & exposure
- Fever, cough, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, or breathlessness.
- Close contact with someone who has a confirmed infection.
- Respiratory symptoms in someone who lives or works with vulnerable people.
Telling infections apart
- Distinguishing COVID-19 from influenza or another respiratory infection when it would change management.
Procedures, travel & work requirements
- Before a hospital admission, surgery or procedure where a result is requested.
- A requirement set by an employer, institution or destination.
A Not Detected result means no SARS-CoV-2 genetic material was found in your swab. Timing and sampling both matter, though: a swab taken very soon after exposure, or one that did not reach far enough back, can be negative in someone who genuinely has COVID-19, so your doctor may repeat it. A Detected result means viral genetic material was present in the sample. Detected is not quite the same as live, transmissible virus. Fragments can linger for a period after recovery, so a positive result some time after an illness is read against the date your symptoms began. The test says nothing about how severe an infection will be and nothing about immunity, which antibody testing addresses separately. Your doctor interprets the result with your symptoms, exposure history and the public-health guidance currently in force.
Medically reviewed by Dr Nirupama Sabhapathy
This test is reported descriptively rather than on a numeric scale: each finding below explains what your report may say.
No SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in the swab; a swab taken very early can miss infection.
SARS-CoV-2 genetic material found in the swab; your doctor reads it with your symptoms.
Ranges are a guide: your physician interprets your result alongside your symptoms and history.
What a higher result can point to
- A current SARS-CoV-2 infection with typical respiratory symptoms.
- Infection in someone with no symptoms at all, which the test detects equally well.
- Very early infection, sometimes before symptoms have begun.
- Residual viral genetic material persisting after recovery, when the person is no longer infectious.
- A new infection in someone who has had COVID-19 before or has been vaccinated.
These are possibilities, not diagnoses. A single value outside the reference range is interpreted alongside your symptoms, history and other tests: your doctor decides what it means for you.
What this test cannot tell you
- A negative result does not exclude infection if the swab was taken too early after exposure or did not collect enough material.
- A positive result shows viral genetic material rather than proving that live, transmissible virus is present, which matters when testing late after an illness.
- The test says nothing about how severe an infection will be and nothing about immunity, which antibody testing addresses separately.
- It does not identify the variant involved, which requires separate sequencing performed for public-health purposes.
Collecting your sample safely
- The swab can feel uncomfortable for a few seconds and may make your eyes water or make you cough or gag briefly.
- Slight soreness or a small nosebleed can follow and settles quickly; tell the nurse beforehand if you have a bleeding disorder or recent nose or throat surgery.
- Every swab is sterile and used once.
- 1PCR detects the virus's genetic material and is the most sensitive routine test for current infection.
- 2Timing matters: a swab taken too soon after exposure can be negative in someone who is genuinely infected.
- 3The test can stay positive for a period after recovery, when the person is no longer infectious.
- 4It measures neither immunity nor the likely severity of the illness.
- 5Isolation and return-to-work decisions follow current local public-health advice, which your doctor can confirm.
COVID-19 PCR also comes in these focused packages, which pair it with the tests usually read alongside it.
- Microbiology & PCRInfluenza Virus A & B Antigen, Nasal Swab
This rapid antigen test detects influenza A and B viruses from a nasal swab. Results are available within 24 hours, helping guide timely treatment…
55View - Microbiology & PCRRespiratory Virus Panel A (10 Viruses)
This respiratory virus panel detects 10 common viruses causing upper and lower respiratory infections using multiplex PCR from a nasopharyngeal swab.…
300View - Immunology / SerologyC-Reactive Protein (CRP)
CRP is a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation. Elevated levels indicate an active inflammatory process, which could be caused by…
60View - HaematologyComplete Blood Count (CBC)
The CBC is the most commonly ordered blood test. It measures red blood cells, white blood cells, haemoglobin, haematocrit, and platelets to assess…
35View
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the COVID-19 PCR test. Can't find what you're looking for?
Talk to our team→A Not Detected result means no SARS-CoV-2 genetic material was found in your swab. It does not fully exclude infection if the swab was taken very soon after exposure or did not collect enough material, so your doctor may repeat it if you have symptoms or a known contact.
A Detected result means viral genetic material was present in the sample. It most often reflects a current infection, with or without symptoms, but it can also come from residual fragments after recovery. Your doctor reads it against when your symptoms began and the public-health guidance currently in force.
Yes. PCR detects infection in people with no symptoms just as well as in those who are unwell, and it can sometimes pick up very early infection before symptoms begin. That is why it is used for travel requirements, before procedures and for contact tracing, as well as for people with symptoms.
No. PCR looks for the virus itself, so it says nothing about immunity from past infection or vaccination, and nothing about how severe an infection will be. Immunity is assessed separately with antibody testing, and a new infection can still be detected in someone who has had COVID-19 before or been vaccinated.
No. The test confirms whether SARS-CoV-2 genetic material is present but does not identify the variant. Variant identification requires separate genetic sequencing, which is performed for public-health purposes rather than as part of a routine individual result.
Not immediately. The virus needs time to multiply before there is enough genetic material to detect, so a swab taken right after contact can be negative even in someone who is becoming infected. Your doctor will advise when testing is most informative for your situation.
Fragments of viral genetic material can remain detectable for a period after the illness has passed, without meaning that live, transmissible virus is still present. This is why a positive result late after an illness is interpreted with your symptoms and history rather than on its own.
PCR is more sensitive, so it detects infection when the amount of virus is lower, including earlier in the illness. Rapid antigen tests are quicker and more convenient but can miss infections that PCR would find, which is why a negative antigen result is sometimes followed by PCR.
Not necessarily. The test finds genetic material, not live virus, and detection can persist after infectiousness has passed. How long to isolate follows the public-health guidance in force where you are, so ask your doctor what currently applies rather than relying on the test result alone.
No fasting is needed. Avoid nasal sprays, saline rinses and decongestants shortly before a nasal swab, as they can wash away the material the test needs.
The COVID-19 PCR test is AED 150, including a physician-reviewed report, with results usually within 24 to 48 hours. Home collection anywhere in Dubai is free when your order reaches AED 300 or includes a package; below that, a AED 100 home collection fee applies (AED 50 for a lab walk-in).