Detection Methodology of Novel Coronavirus

The novel coronaviruses belong to the β genus. COVID-19 is an acute respiratory infectious disease. People are generally susceptible. Currently, the patients infected by the nove1 coronavirus are the main source of infection; asymptomatic infected people can also be an infectious source. Based on the current epidemiological investigation, the incubation period is 1 to 14 days, mostly 3 to 7 days. The main manifestations include fever, fatigue and dry cough. Nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, myalgia and diarrhea are found in a few cases.Three In-Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) tests are engaged to qualitatively detect this virus, 1)Nucleic acid test,2) Antigen test,3) Antibody test.
 

What is nucleic acid test?
Nucleic acid detection refers to the selection of relatively conservative sequences in the novel coronavirus RNA for testing. Generally, two genes are select, if the test result is positive, it would be the direct evidence of infection of a novel coronavirus and is generally used as a diagnostic indicator in clinical practice.
 
What is Antigen test?
The antigen detection kit detects the novel coronavirus N protein antigen, which can be detected in the early stage of viral infection and can be used as direct evidence of viral infection. It can be used as an auxiliary diagnostic index in clinical practice.
 
What is antibody test?
When bacteria and viruses enter the human body, the immune system will automatically recognize those as antigens and stimulate the production of antibodies, which takes 5-7 days. Therefore, antibody detection is considered as indirect evidence with a time lag, which is more suitable for detection in the late course of disease.