scholarly journals Challenges in Laboratory Diagnosis of the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadin Younes ◽  
Duaa W. Al-Sadeq ◽  
Hadeel AL-Jighefee ◽  
Salma Younes ◽  
Ola Al-Jamal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Viral Shedding ◽  
Diagnostic Capacity ◽  
Commercial Kits ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Diagnostic Technologies

The recent outbreak of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has quickly spread worldwide since its discovery in Wuhan city, China in December 2019. A comprehensive strategy, including surveillance, diagnostics, research, clinical treatment, and development of vaccines, is urgently needed to win the battle against COVID-19. The past three unprecedented outbreaks of emerging human coronavirus infections at the beginning of the 21st century have highlighted the importance of readily available, accurate, and rapid diagnostic technologies to contain emerging and re-emerging pandemics. Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) based assays performed on respiratory specimens remain the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnostics. However, point-of-care technologies and serologic immunoassays are rapidly emerging with high sensitivity and specificity as well. Even though excellent techniques are available for the diagnosis of symptomatic patients with COVID-19 in well-equipped laboratories; critical gaps still remain in screening asymptomatic people who are in the incubation phase of the virus, as well as in the accurate determination of live viral shedding during convalescence to inform decisions for ending isolation. This review article aims to discuss the currently available laboratory methods and surveillance technologies available for the detection of COVID-19, their performance characteristics and highlight the gaps in current diagnostic capacity, and finally, propose potential solutions. We also summarize the specifications of the majority of the available commercial kits (PCR, EIA, and POC) for laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Sub-Picomolar Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RBD via Computationally-Optimized Peptide Beacons

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumya P. Tripathy ◽  
Manvitha Ponnapati ◽  
Joseph M Jacobson ◽  
Pranam Chatterjee
Keyword(s):  
Protein Design ◽  
Optical Sensors ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Fluorescence Signal ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Protein Receptor ◽  
On Chip ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
High Sensitivity Detection

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 continues to pose a significant global health threat. Along with vaccines and targeted therapeutics, there is a critical need for rapid diagnostic solutions. In this work, we employ deep learning-based protein design to engineer molecular beacons that function as conformational switches for high sensitivity detection of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain (S-RBD). The beacons contain two peptides, together forming a heterodimer, and a binding ligand between them to detect the presence of S-RBD. In the absence of S-RBD (OFF), the peptide beacons adopt a closed conformation that opens when bound to the S-RBD and produces a fluorescence signal (ON), utilizing a fluorophore-quencher pair at the two ends of the heterodimer stems. Two candidate beacons, C17LC21 and C21LC21, can detect the S-RBD with limits of detection (LoD) in the sub-picomolar range. We envision that these beacons can be easily integrated with on-chip optical sensors to construct a point-of-care diagnostic platform for SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals Whole blood immunophenotyping uncovers immature neutrophil-to-VD2 T-cell ratio as an early marker for severe COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Carissimo ◽  
Weili Xu ◽  
Immanuel Kwok ◽  
Mohammad Yazid Abdad ◽  
Yi-Hao Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Roc Analysis ◽  
Γδ T Cells ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 is the novel coronavirus responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic. Severe complications are observed only in a small proportion of infected patients but the cellular mechanisms underlying this progression are still unknown. Comprehensive flow cytometry of whole blood samples from 54 COVID-19 patients reveals a dramatic increase in the number of immature neutrophils. This increase strongly correlates with disease severity and is associated with elevated IL-6 and IP-10 levels, two key players in the cytokine storm. The most pronounced decrease in cell counts is observed for CD8 T-cells and VD2 γδ T-cells, which both exhibit increased differentiation and activation. ROC analysis reveals that the count ratio of immature neutrophils to VD2 (or CD8) T-cells predicts pneumonia onset (0.9071) as well as hypoxia onset (0.8908) with high sensitivity and specificity. It would thus be a useful prognostic marker for preventive patient management and improved healthcare resource management.

scholarly journals Point-of-Care Diagnostic Services as an Integral Part of Health Services during the Novel Coronavirus 2019 Era

Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 449
Author(s):  
Tivani P. Mashamba-Thompson ◽  
Paul K. Drain
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Mobile Technology ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Pathology Laboratory ◽  
Laboratory Services ◽  
Point Of Care Diagnostics ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Point-of-care (POC) diagnostic services are commonly associated with pathology laboratory services. This issue presents a holistic approach to POC diagnostics services from a variety of disciplines including pathology, radiological and information technology as well as mobile technology and artificial intelligence. This highlights the need for transdisciplinary collaboration to ensure the efficient development and implementation of point-of-care diagnostics. The advent of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has prompted rapid advances in the development of new POC diagnostics. Global private and public sector agencies have significantly increased their investment in the development of POC diagnostics. There is no longer a question about the availability and accessibility of POC diagnostics. The question is “how can POC diagnostic services be integrated into health services in way that is useful and acceptable in the COVID-19 era?”.

scholarly journals Whole blood immunophenotyping uncovers immature neutrophil-to-VD2 T-cell ratio as an early prognostic marker for severe COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Carissimo ◽  
Weili Xu ◽  
Immanuel Kwok ◽  
Mohammad Yazid Abdad ◽  
Yi-Hao Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Prognostic Marker ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Γδ T Cells ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 is the novel coronavirus responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic. Severe complications are observed only in a small proportion of infected patients but the cellular mechanisms underlying this progression are still unknown. Comprehensive flow cytometry of whole blood samples from 54 COVID-19 patients revealed a dramatic increase in the number of immature neutrophils. This increase strongly correlated with disease severity and was associated with elevated IL-6 and IP-10 levels, two key players in the cytokine storm. The most pronounced decrease in cell counts was observed for CD8 T-cells and VD2 γδ T-cells, which both exhibited increased differentiation and activation. ROC analysis revealed that the count ratio of immature neutrophils to CD8 or VD2 T-cells predicts pneumonia onset (0.9071) as well as hypoxia onset (0.8908) with high sensitivity and specificity. It would thus be a useful prognostic marker for preventive patient management and improved healthcare resource management.

scholarly journals Clinical Progress Note: Point-of-Care Ultrasound Applications in COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 353-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benji K Mathews ◽  
Seth Koenig ◽  
Linda Kurian ◽  
Benjamin Galen ◽  
Gregory Mints ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Septic Shock ◽  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Critical Illness ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Ultrasound Applications

COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Although most patients (81%) develop mild illness, 14% develop severe illness, and 5% develop critical illness, including acute respiratory failure, septic shock, and multiorgan dysfunction.1 Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), or bedside ultrasound performed by a clinician caring for the patient, is being used to support the diagnosis and serially monitor patients with COVID-19. We performed a literature search of electronically discoverable peer-reviewed publications on POCUS use in COVID-19 from December 1, 2019, to April 10, 2020. We review key POCUS applications that are most relevant to frontline providers in the care of COVID-19 patients.

A Rapid and Quantitative Serum Test for SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies with Portable Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelhadi Djaileb ◽  
Benjamin Charron ◽  
Maryam Hojjat Jodaylami ◽  
Vincent Thibault ◽  
Julien Coutu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Plasmon Resonance ◽  
Human Serum ◽  
Surface Plasmon ◽  
Plasmon Resonance ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Label Free ◽  
Spr Sensor ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Nanomolar Range

We report a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor detecting nucleocapsid antibodies specific against the novel coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) in undiluted human serum. When exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the immune system responds by expressing antibodies at levels that can be detected and monitored to identify the patient population immunized against SARD-CoV-2 and support efforts to deploy a vaccine strategically. A SPR sensor coated with a peptide monolayer and functionalized with SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid recombinant protein detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the nanomolar range. This bioassay was performed on a portable SPR instrument in undiluted human serum and results were collected within 15 minutes of sample/sensor contact. This strategy paves the way to point-of-care and label-free rapid testing for antibodies.

A Rapid and Quantitative Serum Test for SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies with Portable Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelhadi Djaileb ◽  
Benjamin Charron ◽  
Maryam Hojjat Jodaylami ◽  
Vincent Thibault ◽  
Julien Coutu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Plasmon Resonance ◽  
Human Serum ◽  
Surface Plasmon ◽  
Plasmon Resonance ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Label Free ◽  
Spr Sensor ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Nanomolar Range

We report a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor detecting nucleocapsid antibodies specific against the novel coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) in undiluted human serum. When exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the immune system responds by expressing antibodies at levels that can be detected and monitored to identify the patient population immunized against SARD-CoV-2 and support efforts to deploy a vaccine strategically. A SPR sensor coated with a peptide monolayer and functionalized with SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid recombinant protein detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the nanomolar range. This bioassay was performed on a portable SPR instrument in undiluted human serum and results were collected within 15 minutes of sample/sensor contact. This strategy paves the way to point-of-care and label-free rapid testing for antibodies.

scholarly journals Viral Shedding Time of SARS-CoV-2 and the Factors Involved: A Retrospective Observational Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guixian Wu ◽  
Ling Lin ◽  
Susu He ◽  
Qian Chen ◽  
Xiaomai Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Digestive Tract ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Advanced Age ◽  
Retrospective Observational Study ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Clearance Time ◽  
Viral Shedding ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Abstract Background: In December 2019, the discovery of the novel coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan, China, which subsequently and rapidly spread throughout the country and worldwide, resulting in a pandemic.After a year of intense research, our knowledge of the new coronaviruses has gradually improved; however, knowledge regarding the time of their complete clearance from the body and the factors influencing clearance are currently inadequate. Results: We conducted a retrospective observational study comprising 135 patients above the age of 18 years with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia, who were admitted to the Public Health Center of Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University from January 23, 2020, to March 11, 2020. The findings regarding the duration of the infection from the time of onset to the time of being asymptomatic (whichever was observed first) indicated that novel coronaviruses were cleared from the respiratory tract in a maximum of 84 days and a minimum of 1 day with a median clearance time (quartile) of 20 (13, 30) days. Moreover, viruses were cleared from the digestive tract in a maximum of 72 days and a minimum of 5 days with a median clearance time (quartile) of 25 (20.75, 31) days. The viral shedding time of SARS in the digestive tract was found to be longer than that in the respiratory tract (p = 0.03). Severe disease (P < 0.001), advanced age (P < 0.001), lymphopenia (P = 0.01) and elevated CRP (P = 0.036) were significantly associated with longer clearance time in the respiratory tract. Gender (P = 0.754), novel coronavirus antibodies (P = 0.75), and antibiotic use (P = 0.093) were not associated with the time span required for the novel coronavirus to be cleared from the respiratory tract. Conclusions: Independent risk factors for the longer clearance time of novel coronaviruses in the digestive tract versus that in the respiratory tract were compared. Severe disease, advanced age, lymphopenia, and elevated CRP were determined to be factors prolonging the clearance of novel coronaviruses.

scholarly journals Current and emerging diagnostic tests available for the novel COVID-19 global pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald Mboowa
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Status ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Point Of Care Tests

On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) upgraded the status of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak from epidemic to a global pandemic. This infection is caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Several rapid diagnostic tests have been developed at an astonishing pace; however, COVID-19 requires more highly specific rapid point-of-care diagnostic tests. This review describes the currently available testing approaches, as well as the available test assays including the Xpert® Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test (takes ~45 min) and Abbott ID COVID-19 test (5 min) as easy to use point-of-care tests for diagnosis of novel COVID-19 that have so far received the US Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorizations clearance. This review is correct as of the date published and will be updated as more diagnostic tests come to light.

scholarly journals Point-of-Care RNA-Based Diagnostic Device for COVID-19

Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Yang ◽  
Yung-Chih Wang ◽  
Ching-Fen Shen ◽  
Chao-Min Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Diagnostic Device ◽  
Fast Spreading ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

At the end of 2019, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a fast-spreading respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was reported in Wuhan, China and has now affected over 123 countries globally [...]

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