You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

Hey everybody, today we've got NPR correspondent Rob Stein on the line to talk all about coronavirus testing.

Hey Rob.

Hey Maddie, long time no see.

Too long Rob, we've missed you over here on Shortwave.

Oh man, I miss you guys so much, it's so nice to be back.

Yes.

Alright Rob, so even though we've been living through the pandemic for a while now,

there's still lots of confusion about coronavirus tests and what the results of those tests do and don't mean.

For sure Maddie, and that's become even more evident as lots of people in the Trump administration,

including President Trump himself, have tested positive in the last week.

Trump administration is fighting to contain an outbreak of coronavirus.

In 48 hours, two members of the White House staff tested positive for the virus.

The White House has been relying heavily on testing to stop the spread.

But it's far from foolproof.

Tested positive.

Testing is important to be sure, but the administration has consistently over-relied on testing to protect people working in the White House.

Instead of fully committing to all the necessary precautions like consistent mask wearing and social distancing and being outside, that kind of stuff.

Exactly Maddie, tests are really important, but what we're seeing unfold right now also shows their limitations.

The tests aren't some kind of magical force field, so it's important to know what kind of test you're getting and their strengths and their weaknesses.

So today in the show, we go back to the basics of coronavirus testing.

The types of tests, when they're the most accurate, and what their results do and don't mean.

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