Numerous genetic tests for the detection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, including those based on the ever-popular real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) technique, have been reported. These diagnostic tests give false negatives particularly during the early and late stages of COVID-19 clearly indicating inadequate test sensitivity. The entire COVID-19 diagnostic workflow is often overlooked and given very little attention. Herein, we propose that volumetric modifications to COVID-19 workflows would significantly improve detection limits. We would therefore encourage researchers to adopt a holistic approach, in which all the steps of a COVID-19 diagnostic workflow, are carefully scrutinised, particularly those upstream factors at the viral sampling and pre-analytical stages.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, false negatives, diagnostic workflow, real-time polymerase chain reaction, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, coronavirus, diagnostic test, diagnostic, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus, virus, polymerase chain reaction, sensitivity, RT-qPCR, Viral, diagnostic tests, false negatives, respiratory, False negative, Chain Reaction, genetic tests, acute respiratory syndrome, Factor, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, stages, limits, late stage, Modification, volumetric, upstream, researcher, approach, polymerase chain, IMPROVE, significantly, reported, Numerous, genetic test, 【제목키워드】 Detection limit, COVID-19 test, Rethinking,