A review of current effective COVID-19 testing methods and quality control

COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which primarily affects the respiratory system and can lead to severe illness. The virus is extremely contagious, early and accurate diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial to contain its spread, to provide prompt treatment, and to prevent complications. Currently, the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is considered to be the gold standard for detecting COVID-19 in its early stages. In addition, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LMAP), clustering rule interval short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (GICA), computed tomography (CT), and electrochemical sensors are also common tests. However, these different methods vary greatly in terms of their detection efficiency, specificity, accuracy, sensitivity, cost, and throughput. Besides, most of the current detection methods are conducted in central hospitals and laboratories, which is a great challenge for remote and underdeveloped areas. Therefore, it is essential to review the advantages and disadvantages of different COVID-19 detection methods, as well as the technology that can enhance detection efficiency and improve detection quality in greater details.

Automated summary

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is a highly infectious disease that primarily affects the respiratory system and can lead to severe illness. Early and accurate diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for containing its spread and providing prompt treatment. Various methods, such as RT-PCR, LMAP, CRISPR, GICA, CT, and electrochemical sensors, are used for COVID-19 detection, but they vary in terms of efficiency, specificity, accuracy, sensitivity, cost, and throughput. It is important to review the advantages and disadvantages of different detection methods and explore technologies that can enhance detection efficiency and improve quality.