This disease was discovered a mere 3+ months ago. Has the world really developed exact, precise, uniformly administered and accurately and repetitively analyzed tests all across the globe?
The test is done by polymer chain reaction. Nasopharyngeal swabs and sputum (if available) are tested. Polymer chain reaction works by replicating strands of DNA particles that match a known starter sequence (called a primer) specific to the virus. As long as you have the primer for your PCR machine you are good to go. The technology has been around for quite some time and most Hospital labs in major metropolitan hospitals have one. An industrial country like Australia would have numerous labs across the country that can test for it. For smaller countries they probably engage labs at a near by bigger country. It will take longer for results but you should be able to get them back in a few days worst case.
Turn around time in the US has been improving as the CDC sent primer kits to all major labs and I believe regulations are being relaxed so that major hospitals can test on site if they have the correct equipment.
They haven’t. Bottom line is had the Chinese cooperated in late Nov, tests might have been available.