Primary Diagnostic Tools for SARS-Cov-2 Infection (COVID-19): Current Challenge

Abstract

Pandemic outbreaks are always a challenge for the health care management to hold the mortality rate when preventive measures are not established. The only solution is to control the spread by conducting massive screening and isolating affected ones from the healthy ones. The research concentration is to develop rapid diagnostics and screening at lower cost. Rapid diagnostic methods are being used and developed worldwide.Multiple studies suggest that RT-PCR, protein testing and CT should be the principal diagnostic instrument for routine testing in patients with COVID-19. But three factors are still indistinct in those diagnostic methods such as rapidity, sensitivity, and specificity. Thus, alternative approaches that provide higher efficiency and lower time requirement are highly appreciated for switching the super spread infectious disease detection.Moderntimes, microfluidics alternatively called lab on a chip or POCT have been widely used in cancer and viral detection, specifically for virus detection in very recent days. The ability of POCT tests to provide short time results,suitable in low resource clinics even at home. So, we saw the importance of miniaturized tools suitable for COVID-19 detection will endure the current expensive methods. Despite the limitations, approved tests are still experiencing good results against a great pandemic. We reviewed and highlighted the point of care testing (PCOT) method is not less than any other screening method by reviewing a wide research setting.