Types of Assays for SARS-CoV-2 Testing: A Review

Lab Med. 2020 Sep 1;51(5):e59-e65. doi: 10.1093/labmed/lmaa039.

Abstract

Clinical laboratory testing routinely provides actionable results, which help direct patient care in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Since December 2019, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been causing disease (COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]) in patients, beginning in China and now extending worldwide. In this context of a novel viral pandemic, clinical laboratories have developed multiple novel assays for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and for managing patients afflicted with this illness. These include molecular and serologic-based tests, some with point-of-care testing capabilities. Herein, we present an overview of the types of testing available for managing patients with COVID-19, as well as for screening of potential plasma donors who have recovered from COVID-19.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Betacoronavirus / genetics*
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / blood
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay / methods*
  • Immunoassay / standards
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / methods*
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / standards
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / blood
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / standards
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Serologic Tests / methods*
  • Serologic Tests / standards

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral