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EditorialPublication 2020Interpreting Diagnostic Tests for SARS-CoV-2
This viewpoint describes how to interpret two types of diagnostic tests commonly used for SARS-CoV-2 …
This viewpoint describes how to interpret two types of diagnostic tests commonly used for SARS-CoV-2 infections – reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and IgM and IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) – and how the results may vary over time. False-negative results mainly occurred due to inappropriate timing of sample collection in relation to illness onset and deficiency in sampling technique, especially of nasopharyngeal swabs. Specificity of most of the RT-PCR tests is 100% because the…
Evidence Synthesis | Test Performance | Infectious Diseases | Health/Medicine | Science/Technology | Global -
EditorialPublication 2020Diagnostic Testing for the Novel Coronavirus
This perspective provides insights about the controversies over diagnostic testing that have dominated U.S. headlines …
This perspective provides insights about the controversies over diagnostic testing that have dominated U.S. headlines regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the novel coronavirus responsible for coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The authors review early testing challenges, beginning with the initial technical problems with the first test developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which left the U.S. with inadequate diagnostic capacity early in the epidemic. They discuss the "diagnostic testing gap"…
Test Performance | Infectious Diseases | Policy/Regulation | Clinical Care | Government/Law | Health/Medicine | Science/Technology | North America -
EditorialPublication 2020False Negative Tests for SARS-CoV-2 Infection – Challenges and Implications
This article discusses the implications of uncertain test performance within the contextualized rationale for widespread …
This article discusses the implications of uncertain test performance within the contextualized rationale for widespread SARS-CoV-2 testing as essential to safely reopen the U.S. They argue that while much attention has been given to test availability, test accuracy may be the larger long-term problem. Authors provide a solid review of the relationship and influence of the prior probability, test sensitivity, and test specificity on the post-test probability of disease. They connect the quantitative information with…
Test Performance | Infectious Diseases | Clinical Care | Health/Medicine -
EditorialPublication 2020Waiting for Certainty on COVID-19 Antibody Tests — At What Cost?
This perspective anticipates the availability of serologic antibody testing and considers its potential usefulness in mitigation …
This perspective anticipates the availability of serologic antibody testing and considers its potential usefulness in mitigation policy to reduce COVID-19 transmission. For example: Could we screen for serologic antibodies as a proxy for possible immunity and identify people who could return to the workplace with less severe mitigation measures? The authors acknowledge the uncertainties raised by many policy actors, including the WHO, such as, "Do antibodies confer immunity and, if so, for how long? How accurate is…
Probability/Bayes | Test Performance | Technology Assessment | Infectious Diseases | Health Systems | Policy/Regulation | Government/Law | Health/Medicine | Global | North America
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