COVID-19 Testing Criteria (Updated March 24, 2020)

Patients who do not meet any of the below criteria for COVID-19 testing should be managed as clinically indicated, including the decision to proceed with testing at a clinical or commercial laboratory. COVID-19 testing is now available through a limited number of commercial laboratories and availability through hospital and reference labs will continue to grow.
Patients who have illness compatible with COVID-19, including:
Fever, Sore throat, Body aches, Cough, Runny nose, Headache, Shortness of breath, Fatigue
AND
Is at highest risk of poor health outcomes including any of the following:
Person over the age of 60, Person with serious underlying medical conditions* or immunocompromised,† Pregnant, OR Hospitalized with severe lower respiratory illness
OR
The individual been in close contact with a sick person with confirmed COVID-19. Close contact includes any of the following:
Living in the same household as a sick person with COVID-19, Caring for a sick person with COVID-19, Being within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for about 10 minutes, OR Being in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils, etc.).
OR
The individual lives or works in any of the following situations:
Any setting where healthcare services are being delivered (hospital, behavioral health facilities, long-term care facilities, corrections, etc.). Public safety occupation (law enforcement, firefighter, EMS, etc.). Institutional or congregate setting (corrections, shelters, etc.). Critical infrastructure occupation (grocery stores, pharmacist, restaurants, gas stations, public utilities, etc.).
Testing is recommended for anyone who is symptomatic AND is at highest risk for poor health outcomes OR is a close contact of confirmed COVID-19 case OR lives or works in a high-risk situation.
*Underlying medical conditions include people with chronic lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, and serious heart conditions. People of any age with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] >40) or certain medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, such as those with diabetes, renal failure, or liver disease may be at risk for severe illness.
†Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications.