Point-of-Care Testing-The Key in the Battle against SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

The deleterious effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic urged the development of diagnostic tools to manage the spread of disease. Currently, the "gold standard" involves the use of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Eve...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Micromachines (Basel) 2021-11, Vol.12 (12), p.1464
Main Authors: Iliescu, Florina Silvia, Ionescu, Ana Maria, Gogianu, Larisa, Simion, Monica, Dediu, Violeta, Chifiriuc, Mariana Carmen, Pircalabioru, Gratiela Gradisteanu, Iliescu, Ciprian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibodies
Asymptomatic
Biosensors
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Decision making
detection
Disease transmission
epidemic
Epidemics
Epidemiology
Genomes
Infections
Laboratories
Middle East respiratory syndrome
Pandemics
Patients
Point of care testing
Polymerase chain reaction
Proteins
Respiratory diseases
Review
SARS-CoV-2 variants
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Surveillance
Viral diseases
Viruses
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Summary:The deleterious effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic urged the development of diagnostic tools to manage the spread of disease. Currently, the "gold standard" involves the use of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Even though it is sensitive, specific and applicable for large batches of samples, qRT-PCR is labour-intensive, time-consuming, requires trained personnel and is not available in remote settings. This review summarizes and compares the available strategies for COVID-19: serological testing, Point-of-Care Testing, nanotechnology-based approaches and biosensors. Last but not least, we address the advantages and limitations of these methods as well as perspectives in COVID-19 diagnostics. The effort is constantly focused on understanding the quickly changing landscape of available diagnostic testing of COVID-19 at the clinical levels and introducing reliable and rapid screening point of care testing. The last approach is key to aid the clinical decision-making process for infection control, enhancing an appropriate treatment strategy and prompt isolation of asymptomatic/mild cases. As a viable alternative, Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) is typically low-cost and user-friendly, hence harbouring tremendous potential for rapid COVID-19 diagnosis.
ISSN:2072-666X
2072-666X
DOI:10.3390/mi12121464