How do doctors test a person for the new coronavirus? how fast is the test? is it a throat swab?

Coronavirus testing: The test is a blood test. All testing in the US 'til now has been at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with 1-2 weeks to get result. Soon the test will be done by many or most state health departments, and probably some local HDs as well. They in turn may approve testing by other labs. Within next few weeks, should be available widely with faster test results.