Opinions
Volume: 36 | Issue: 2S | Published: Jun 24, 2020 | Pages: 43 - 46
Serological (Antibody-Based) Tests for COVID-19: A Pathologist's Perspective
Authors: Muhammad Usman Shams , Raees Abbas Lail , Sobia Khalid
Article Info
Authors
Muhammad Usman Shams
Research Director, Mughal Diagnostics & Research Labs, a project of Mughal Eye Hospital Trust Johar Town, Lahore-Pakistan.
Raees Abbas Lail
Associate Professor, Head Department of Pathology, Sahiwal Medical College, Sahiwal-Pakistan.
Sobia Khalid
Lecturer, Department of Morbid Anatomy & Histopathology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore-Pakistan.
Publication History
Received: May 11, 2020
Revised: May 18, 2020
Accepted: June 18, 2020
Published: June 24, 2020
Abstract
The essential and critical role of laboratory medicine in the current Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID19) outbreak regarding diagnosis, therapeutics and prognostics cannot be overruled. No laboratory test is perfect and there is always a dilemma especially for respiratory diseases as in case of tuberculosis. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV are not always perfect for any one test. In case of COVID-19, we need to step ahead of PCR and also start supplementary serology testing. It will provide wide range of information, important for future thinking, planning and actions against COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19, Antibody-based tests, Screening, World Health Organization.
