Since March 20, 2020, Sonora Quest Laboratories has been receiving COVID-19 specimens and performing diagnostic testing for active infection locally at our main lab in Phoenix. Click here for test information.
Sonora Quest Laboratories now offers COVID-19 – Symptoms/Exposure (Carside) appointments at select Sonora Quest Patient Service Centers for patients who are symptomatic or have been recently exposed to someone with COVID-19. During these appointments, a Sonora Quest team member will observe the patient self-collect a nasal swab specimen for diagnostic testing. Appointments are available for patients with and without an order from their healthcare provider. Learn more about ordering COVID-19 diagnostic testing without an order from a healthcare provider.
Patients who believe they may have active COVID-19 are strongly encouraged to contact their healthcare provider or locate an Arizona Testing Blitz site for sample collection at https://www.azdhs.gov/testingblitz.
Diagnostic molecular tests are used to directly detect the presence of the virus, rather than the presence of the body’s immune response, or antibodies. By detecting viral Ribonucleic Acid or RNA, which will be present in the body before antibodies form, these molecular tests can tell whether someone has the virus very early on and whether they are infectious.
The Sonora Quest Laboratories test for COVID-19 is a qualitative, molecular test to detect RNA from SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19. This test has been authorized by the FDA under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for use by authorized laboratories.