Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the cardinal importance of rapid and accurate diagnostic assays. Since the early days of the outbreak, researchers with different scientific backgrounds across the globe have tried to fulfill the urgent need for such assays, with many assays having been approved and with others still undergoing clinical validation. Molecular diagnostic assays are a major group of tests used to diagnose COVID-19. Currently, the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the most widely used method. Other diagnostic molecular methods, including CRISPR-based assays, isothermal nucleic acid amplification methods, digital PCR, microarray assays, and next generation sequencing (NGS), are promising alternatives. In this review, we summarize the technical and clinical applications of the different COVID-19 molecular diagnostic assays and suggest directions for the implementation of such technologies in future infectious disease outbreaks.

摘要

2019 年冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 大流行凸显了快速、准确的诊断检测的重要性。自疫情爆发初期以来，全球具有不同科学背景的研究人员一直在努力满足对此类检测的迫切需求，许多检测已获得批准，其他检测仍在进行临床验证。分子诊断测定是用于诊断 COVID-19 的主要测试组。目前，逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）检测SARS-CoV-2 RNA是最广泛使用的方法。其他诊断分子方法，包括基于 CRISPR 的测定、等温核酸扩增方法、数字 PCR、微阵列测定和下一代测序 (NGS)，都是有前途的替代方法。在这篇综述中，我们总结了不同的 COVID-19 分子诊断测定的技术和临床应用，并为未来传染病爆发中实施此类技术的方向提出了建议。