What is a ‘presumptive positive’ test for coronavirus? Here’s what you should know

As more presumptive cases of coronavirus are confirmed across the country and the virus continues to spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has different classifications for COVID-19 cases.

There were 938 cases in the U.S. as of March 12, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC has already shipped test kits to U.S. and international labs, according to a news release.

Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the Center for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told THV11 those who test positive with the kits are still “presumptive” because of Food and Drug Administration rules.

The CDC has broken down COVID-19 cases into three categories:

• Person Under Investigation (PUI) refers to those who are being investigated for coronavirus.
• A Presumptive Positive case is those who have tested positive for COVID-19 at a state or local laboratory but have to have the diagnosis confirmed by the CDC.
• Laboratory-confirmed case is when someone has tested positive for the virus at a CDC lab.

Coronavirus has infected more than 127,000 people and killed more than 4,700 as of March 12, according to Johns Hopkins University.

This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 9:52 AM with the headline "What is a ‘presumptive positive’ test for coronavirus? Here’s what you should know."