Coronavirus Disease PHGKB|Home|PHGKB

Coronavirus Disease PHGKB|Home|PHGKB

 Spotlight on COVID-19

Incorporating Test Characteristics Into SARS-CoV-2 Testing Policy—Sense and Sensitivity
LM Marcotte et al, JAMA Health Forum April 14, 2020

COVID-19 test characteristics including sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic yield are critical for understanding the risk of false-negatives in the context of community transmission and variable clinical symptoms.

Projecting the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 through the postpandemic period
SM Kissler et al, Science, April 14, 2020

We used estimates of seasonality, immunity, and cross-immunity for betacoronaviruses OC43 and HKU1 from time series data from the USA to inform a model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. We projected that recurrent wintertime outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 will probably occur after the initial, most severe pandemic wave.

Prediction models for diagnosis and prognosis in Covid-19
M Sperrin et al, BMJ Editorial, April 14, 2020

In just over three months, there were 27 studies with 31 models. This number highlights the importance of publishing the systematic review as a living review—continually updated as evidence mounts. Unfortunately, the review demonstrates that the quality of the identified models is uniformly poor and none can be recommended for clinical use.

Diagnostic Testing for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome–Related Coronavirus-2: A Narrative Review
MP CHeng et al, Annals Int Medicine, April 13, 2020

Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction–based assays performed in a laboratory on respiratory specimens are the reference standard for COVID-19 diagnostics. However, point-of-care technologies and serologic immunoassays are rapidly emerging. Although excellent tools exist for the diagnosis of symptomatic patients in well-equipped laboratories.