Abstract
Background: Mass testing and adequate management are essential to terminate the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This testing is due to the possibility of unidentified cases, especially ones without COVID-19 related symptoms. This review aimed to examine the outcome of the existing studies on the ways of identifying COVID-19 cases, and determine the populations at risk, symptom and diagnostic test management of COVID-19. Methods: The articles reviewed were scientific publications on the PubMed, Science Direct, ProQuest, and Scopus databases. The keywords used to obtain the data were COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and case detection, case management or diagnostic test. We applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Population, Intervention, Control and Outcomes (PICO) approaches. Results: A total of 21 articles from 13 countries met the inclusion criteria and were further analyzed qualitatively. However, 62% of the articles used a rapid antibody test for screening rather than a rapid antigen test. According to the rapid antigen test, 51.3% were positive, with men aged above 50 years recording the highest number of cases. Furthermore, 57.1% of patients were symptomatic, while diagnostic tests' sensitivity and specificity increased to 100% in 14 days after the onset. Conclusion s: Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is recommended by the World Health Organization for detection of COVID-19. Suppose it is unavailable, the rapid antigen test is used as an alternative rather than the rapid antibody test. Diagnosis is expected to be confirmed using the PCR and serological assay to achieve an early diagnosis of COVID-19, according to disease progression, gradual rapid tests can be used, such as rapid antigen in an earlier week and antibody tests confirmed by RT-PCR and serological assay in the second week of COVID-19.
Highlights
The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Progression, gradual rapid tests can be used, such as rapid antigen in an earlier week and antibody tests confirmed by RT–polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serological assay in the second week of COVID-19
The PCR method is targeted for RNA, while rapid tests for antigens and antibodies are targeted for proteins
Summary
The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Mass testing and adequate management are essential to terminate the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) This testing is due to the possibility of unidentified cases, especially ones without COVID-19 related symptoms. This review aimed to examine the outcome of the existing studies on the ways of identifying COVID19 cases, and determine the populations at risk, symptom and diagnostic test management of COVID-19. The keywords used to obtain the data were COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and case detection, case management or diagnostic test. Conclusions: Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is recommended by the World Health Organization for detection of COVID-19 Suppose it is unavailable, the rapid antigen test is used as an alternative rather than the rapid antibody test. Diagnosis is expected to be confirmed using the PCR and serological assay to achieve an early diagnosis of COVID-19, according to disease
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have