Testing Hub
Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Testing Insights Initiative
Providing public access to COVID-19 testing data, resources, and expert analysis
Overview
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented public health and economic crises. In the coming weeks and months, viral tests for the presence of COVID-19 infection as well as serological tests for antibodies and potential immunity will be critical to measure the spread of the disease. Governments, businesses, and families will rely on data from these tests as they make decisions around the path forward. However, local testing data are not currently publicly available, and a comprehensive set of these data – paired with expert analysis and guidance – does not exist in one place. This initiative seeks to fill that gap.
This site will be continuously updated and enhanced with new data, information, and analyses about COVID-19 testing as these resources become available.
Get The Facts About The Two Types of COVID-19 TestsQuestions About Testing
- Who started the Testing Insights Initiative and why?
- How is COVID-19 diagnosed?
- What are limitations to COVID-19 diagnostic tests?
- Who should be tested for COVID-19?
- What are serology tests and how are they used?
- What are some limitations of serology tests?
- How long does it take to get test results?
- Do patients have to pay to get tested?
- Where do people go to get tested?
- Why are there inconsistencies among testing data for COVID-19?
Testing Insights:
Tracking And Analysis
Johns Hopkins experts are working to fill the void of publicly accessible COVID-19 testing data. This initiative reflects an interdisciplinary collaboration between several groups at Johns Hopkins University: The Bloomberg School of Public Health, Applied Physics Laboratory, Center for Health Security, Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) in the Whiting School of Engineering, and the Centers for Civic Impact, with generous support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Visualizations such as charts and graphs paired with explanations and analysis will address key questions about the trajectory of the pandemic. These data will be updated daily and enhanced with information and analyses to aid policymakers, community and business leaders, and families in making smart and safe decisions.
States ComparisonIndividual StatesTesting PositivityJohns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Tracking serology-based tests for COVID-19
The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security is tracking the development and availability of serology tests. Serology tests are blood-based, and can be used to determine whether individuals have been exposed to a particular pathogen by looking at antibodies, or proteins produced by the body in response to an infection. Serology tests can be helpful in determining whether someone was infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, regardless of whether they ever developed symptoms of the disease. Serology tests can better quantify the number of cases of COVID-19 in the population, including those that may be asymptomatic or have recovered.
Many serology tests have been approved for research use only, meaning they are not yet approved for use as a public health diagnostic tool or for at-home diagnosis. Some tests may eventually be approved for diagnostic use, while others may only be appropriate for research purposes.
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