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Public health laboratories that conduct diagnostic testing to determine whether an individual has the COVID-19 virus. Health care professionals authorize who should be tested based on a combination of the individual's symptoms (though someone with COVID may be asymptomatic), underlying medical conditions and risk of exposure to the virus. Samples can be collected through a nose swab, throat swab or saliva sample. Once the sample is taken, it is put into a sterile container and sent to the lab where the sample is analyzed and copies are made of the virus' RNA. The machine attempts to match the person's RNA with the coronavirus RNA to determine a positive or negative result.