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Intel Lab Diagnostics Dubai
Single Biomarker

COVID-19 PCR

SARS-CoV-2 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.

NASOPHARYNGEAL SWAB24 TO 48 HOURSNO FASTING
AEDAED220
  • Free home collection
  • Physician-reviewed report

24 to 48 hours

Turnaround

Nasopharyngeal Swab

Sample

About This Test

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.

Sample type
Nasopharyngeal Swab
Turnaround
24 to 48 hours
Fasting
Not required
Best for
All ages
Why Get Tested?

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.

When This Test Is Ordered

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.
Preparation
The short version
No prep needed.
  • Nasopharyngeal Swab
  • Free home collection
  • No fasting
  • Results in 24 to 48 hours
  1. 1
    Book any time

    No fasting window: pick any slot that suits you, online or on WhatsApp.

  2. 2
    We come to you

    A DHA-licensed nurse collects your sample at home or in the office: free home collection.

  3. 3
    Results in 24 to 48 hours

    A physician-reviewed, easy-to-read report lands securely by WhatsApp and email.

Prep note
Physician reviewed

No fasting is needed.

Tell the team when your symptoms began and when any exposure happened, because the timing shapes how the result should be read and whether a repeat is worth planning. Avoid nasal sprays, saline rinses and decongestants shortly before a nasal swab, as they can wash away the material the test needs, and if a throat swab is being taken avoid eating, drinking, chewing gum, smoking or using mouthwash immediately beforehand.

The swab is brief and can feel uncomfortable, so it helps to breathe normally and stay still. Wear a mask to and from the collection point and follow the staff's instructions on where to wait.

Understanding Your Results

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.

SmartReport

COVID-19 PCR

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.

Not Detected

The target was not detected: a negative result.

Detected

The target was detected: a positive result. Please consult your physician.

This test is reported descriptively rather than on a numeric scale: each finding below explains what your report may say.

This information is for general education only and is not medical advice. Reference ranges can vary by laboratory, age, sex, and individual factors. Always consult your physician or doctor to interpret your results.

Reading a High or Low Result

  • 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.

Limitations & Safety

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.

Risks of the blood draw

  • Mild bruising or brief soreness where the needle went in.
  • Occasional lightheadedness, which settles after a few minutes of rest.
  • Bleeding or infection at the site, which is rare with sterile single-use equipment.
Key Points
  • 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.
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A nurse comes to you, results land in 24 to 48 hours, and a physician walks you through exactly what they mean.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about the COVID-19 PCR test. Can't find what you're looking for?

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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.