COVID-19 Testing – Between Diagnostic Accuracy, False Positives, And Human Gatherings

Abstract

COVID-19 is a highly communicable disease. The outspread of the novel coronavirus and the increasing incidence required emergency approval of several diagnostic testing methods. This study covers the types of available testing options and their accuracy. There are mainly two types of tests for detecting COVID-19 infection; diagnostic tests (molecular and antigen tests) that involve active detection of virus in the body, showing active infection. It is of two types antigen and molecular tests. The second type of test is antibody tests. Similarly, a rapid test is also available based on the diagnostic testing techniques that show results in a lesser time, allowing faster detection and easy quarantine of the individual. However, all of them show variable accuracy and precision. That is why slowly lesser accurate techniques were detected and replaced by advanced and accurate ones. Currently, rRT-PCR is the best available test for detecting active infection, and the ELISA test is for the presence of antibodies.