-
ArticlePublication 2020Interpreting COVID-19 Test Results: A Bayesian Approach
This article considers the following question with respect to interpreting the results of polymerase chain reaction …
This article considers the following question with respect to interpreting the results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays from nasal and pharyngeal swabs for COVID-19 to inform clinical decision making: "While a positive result in an acutely ill patient is straightforward, how should physicians interpret negative tests in patients with suspected COVID-19 infection?" Using an assumption of near-perfect specificity of PCR assays for COVID-19, the authors acknowledge the uncertainty of test sensitivity. They consider two clinical scenarios…
Global | Probability/Bayes | Test Performance | Infectious Diseases | Health/Medicine | Science/Technology -
ArticlePublication 2020Interpreting a COVID-19 Test Result
Viral RNA tests for COVID-19, using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), rely on samples …
Viral RNA tests for COVID-19, using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), rely on samples obtained from the respiratory tract by nasopharyngeal swab. Testing for COVID-19 theoretically could "identify infected individuals who can then be isolated to reduce spread, allow contact tracing for exposed individuals, and provide knowledge of regional and national rates of infection to inform public health interventions." However, how to interpret test results with respect to individual patient results is not straightforward.…
Global | Probability/Bayes | Test Performance | Value of Information | Infectious Diseases | Health/Medicine | Science/Technology -
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…
Global | Evidence Synthesis | Test Performance | Infectious Diseases | Health/Medicine | Science/Technology -
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…
Global | Probability/Bayes | Test Performance | Technology Assessment | Infectious Diseases | Health Systems | Policy/Regulation | Government/Law | Health/Medicine | North America
4 Shown
Teaching Resources
Collections
Format
Learner Level
Teaching Topic