TY - JOUR
T1 - To test, perchance to diagnose
T2 - Practical strategies for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 testing
AU - Humphries, Romney M.
AU - Azar, Marwan M.
AU - Caliendo, Angela M.
AU - Chou, Andrew
AU - Colgrove, Robert C.
AU - Fabre, Valeria
AU - Ginocchio, Christine C.
AU - Hanson, Kimberly E.
AU - Hayden, Mary K.
AU - Pillai, Dylan R.
AU - Pollock, Nira R.
AU - Lee, Francesca M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.
PY - 2021/4/1
Y1 - 2021/4/1
N2 - Testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients is an important component of the multifaceted approach of managing the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Determining how to best define testing strategies for different populations and incorporating these into broader infection prevention programs can be complex. Many circumstances are not addressed by federal, local, or professional guidelines. This commentary describes various scenarios in which testing of symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals for SARS-CoV-2 virus (antigen or ribonucleic acid) can be of potential benefit. Consideration to pretest probability, risks of testing (impact of false-positive or false-negative results), testing strategy, as well as action based on test results are explored. Testing, regardless of setting, must be incorporated into overarching infection control plans, which include use of personal protective equipment (eg, masks), physically distancing, and isolation when exposure is suspected.
AB - Testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients is an important component of the multifaceted approach of managing the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Determining how to best define testing strategies for different populations and incorporating these into broader infection prevention programs can be complex. Many circumstances are not addressed by federal, local, or professional guidelines. This commentary describes various scenarios in which testing of symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals for SARS-CoV-2 virus (antigen or ribonucleic acid) can be of potential benefit. Consideration to pretest probability, risks of testing (impact of false-positive or false-negative results), testing strategy, as well as action based on test results are explored. Testing, regardless of setting, must be incorporated into overarching infection control plans, which include use of personal protective equipment (eg, masks), physically distancing, and isolation when exposure is suspected.
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - molecular diagnostics
KW - testing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106400935&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85106400935&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/ofid/ofab095
DO - 10.1093/ofid/ofab095
M3 - Review article
C2 - 33880392
AN - SCOPUS:85106400935
SN - 2328-8957
VL - 8
JO - Open Forum Infectious Diseases
JF - Open Forum Infectious Diseases
IS - 4
M1 - ofab095
ER -