A proper and accurate diagnosis of the cause of conjunctivitis will need to be done by your doctor to determine if the infection has been caused by a virus or bacteria. In most cases, doctors are able to make their diagnosis based on the symptoms a person is experiencing and their health history to see if there has been a recent infection in another part of the body. With an increased move to virtual doctor’s visits, performed through a secure web-based platform, patients can often be diagnosed with pink eye, and the type of infection determined, without them having to see the doctor in person. Doctors do have the option to take a sample of any liquid that is draining from the affected eye in order to have it processed and analyzed through a lab. This isn’t commonly done as it is typically only deemed necessary for severe symptoms or if your doctor feels that your case has a high risk of serious outcomes.