Diagnostic value of using a combination of nucleic acid and specific antibody tests for SARS-CoV-2 in coronavirus disease 2019. (17th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Kaochang; Ai, Li; Zhao, Yang; Wang, Tao; Zheng, Zhishui; Zeng, Shaolin; Ding, Xuhong; Hu, Suping; Nie, Hanxiang
• Is Part Of: Epidemiology and infection. Volume 149(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02-17
• Subjects: Antibody, -- COVID-19, -- nucleic acid, -- SARS-CoV-2; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268821000406
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-2688

Abstract

Abstract: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly emerged disease with various clinical manifestations and imaging features. The diagnosis of COVID-19 depends on a positive nucleic acid amplification test by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, the clinical manifestations and imaging features of COVID-19 are non-specific, and nucleic acid test for SARS-CoV-2 can have false-negative results. It is presently believed that detection of specific antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 is an effective screening and diagnostic indicator for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, a combination of nucleic acid and specific antibody tests for SARS-CoV-2 will be more effective to diagnose COVID-19, especially to exclude suspected cases.