Because it is not known how long after the initial infection this inflammation begins, doctors should do both a PCR test and an antibody test, the guidelines said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also issued guidelines for using antibody tests; they were last updated on Aug. 1. The Food and Drug Administration’s decision in April to approve tests without even reviewing their safety and efficacy data “turned out to be a problem,” Dr. Hanson said. reversed that decision in May and gave test-makers 10 days to prove their tests were accurate or be banned from selling them. The order does not apply to the commercial tests the panel analyzed.

Source: New York Times August 21, 2020 22:30 UTC