COVID-19 Pandemic: Laboratory Diagnostic Methods and Related Biosafety Regulations

Abstract

The repeated spread, loss of lives and melt down of the global economy as a result of the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is posing a great challenge to the global health and economy. As of the first week of September, the disease has affected about 216 countries with nearly 900,000 deaths. In Nigeria, the total deaths recorded have exceed one thousand. The rapid, early and accurate laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 is one of the key roles in fighting against the disease. There is the problem of the insufficient sensitivity of a single means to detect the virus and the co-infection with other viruses, creating chance for a high false-negative result. In addition to molecular tests (which are the basis for confirmation of SARS-CoV-2) and Genomic sequencing, serological tests can be used as an additional test in other to boycott false negative results, and play an increasingly important role in understanding the epidemiology of the virus, identify people at risk of contracting the disease, and patients at risk for severe complications. This review will discuss the different laboratory diagnostic methods for SARS-CoV-2, the sample of choice and related biosafety regulations.