How do the tests for coronavirus work?

 
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At the time of writing, there have been almost a quarter of a million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide. The number of deaths is approaching 10,000. Across the world, countries are scrambling to increase their testing capacity for the virus — how are these tests carried out and how do they work?

The tests currently being used to identify coronavirus infection are known as PCR tests. PCR stands for ‘polymerase chain reaction’, and it’s by no means a new testing method — PCR tests have been being used since the 1980s and have a range of applications including the diagnosis of infectious diseases. The tests allow copying of a small amount of DNA millions of times over so that there is enough for detection and confirmation of infection.