Strategies in laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 in India

Abstract

COVID-19 has been documented as the fifth pandemic since 1918 Spanish flu (H1N1). It began as a human cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown etiology, reported from Wuhan, China, during late December 2019. The etiological agent of the pandemic was detected as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. The Indian Council of Medical Research along with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare expanded and diversified testing capacity. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnosis. TrueNat or cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test is for testing at primary and secondary health care level. Rapid antigen test has been designated for field level testing in containment zones as well as hospitals supplementary to RT-PCR. Antibody testing had been adopted mainly for surveillance purpose and not for confirmation of COVID-19.