Anyone, 5 years of age and older, is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Find your nearest vaccination location at vaccines.gov.

To improve efficiency across IDPH labs, the Illinois Department of Public Health has implemented the IL ETOR portal (Illinois Electronic Test Ordering and Reporting portal).

ETOR is a web-based portal that will allow a submitter to enter all the necessary data to submit a COVID sample electronically on a laptop, tablet, or desktop. Once the submission is complete, the printed ETOR order form must accompany the sample to the lab. The patient data is electronically transferred to the IDPH lab where the specimen will be processed. In ETOR, the submitter can view when the sample has been received at the designated IDPH lab along with real-time testing progress. Once testing is complete, the laboratory releases results into the portal as a PDF which can be downloaded for quick access and follow up with the patient.

 Enrollment and use of this system is critical to the Division of Laboratories’ ability to maintain quick turnaround times while increasing testing capacity.

To enroll your facility in the IL ETOR portal or if you have further questions, please email DPH.LABS.DMG@illinois.gov and a ETOR project manager will contact you.

ALL positive COVID-19 lab results should be entered as 'Novel Coronavirus 2019' case in I-NEDSS.

When sending specimens for testing at references laboratories, the ordering provider must complete address, phone, and demographic information on the patient.  This information is required  for ELR (electronic laboratory report) data to be correctly routed to the appropriate local health department.

Proper collection of specimens is the most important step in the laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases. A specimen that is not collected correctly may lead to false negative test results.  General guidance can be found here:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/guidelines-clinical-specimens.html?deliveryName=USCDC_2067-DM26911

For initial diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2, CDC recommends collecting and testing an upper respiratory specimen. The following are acceptable specimens:

Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens from Persons for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/lab/guidelines-clinical-specimens.html

Post-Mortem Specimen Collection: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-postmortem-specimens.html

Infection Control Guidance:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations.html

FDA Coronavirus Emergency Use Authorizations for In Vitro Diagnostics. Link: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-emergency-use-authorizations-medical-devices/vitro-diagnostics-euas The Illinois Department of Public Health does not recommend use of serology tests that are not authorized under EUA.

Negative= not a case currently.

Negative = may be a probable case if there is an epidemiologic link to a COVID-19 case or outbreak and if the case has had COVID-19 symptoms

May be a probable case if there is an epidemiologic link to a COVID case or outbreak or if the case has had COVID-19 symptoms Negative= may be a probable case if there is an epidemiologic link to a COVID case or outbreak or if the case has had COVID-19 symptoms

More information on point-of-care testing platforms: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/OASH-COVID-19-guidance-testing-platforms.pdf