Title : Updates in COVID 19 laboratory diagnosis
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has wreaked havoc on healthcare and economic systems worldwide. Despite extensive scientific research and efforts, there are still knowledge gaps regarding pathophysiology, clinical severity, and diagnosis in the COVID-19 patient population. In this presentation, I will discuss various diagnostic approaches for SARS-CoV-2; the most common methods, the gold standard method. I will compare between the commonly used methods in terms of sensitivity, specificity, turnaround time, feasibility, type of specimens used. I will elaborate some of clinical and epidemiological purposes, advantages and disadvantages of each test. I will present some of the recent advances in diagnostic methods, and the most updated guidelines in the laboratory diagnosis. Briefly, I will discuss how to interpret the results of COVID 19 in context with clinical presentation. In addition, I will explain how to initiate COVID 19 testing in your lab and how to select the appropriate methods based on your setting and requirements.
