Since the outbreak of COVID–19, diagnostics have played a crucial role in the response, even as health systems have struggled with stock-outs of test kits, delays in reporting test results, and overwhelmed laboratories. However, knowledge about the various types of tests for SARS-CoV-2 – and their interpretation and applications – is still evolving. Many unanswered questions remain.  

Molecular tests have largely remained the gold standard for diagnosis of COVID-19, but the costs, complexity, turnaround time, and supply issues for these tests have limited or prevented universal access to diagnosis. Amidst the increased demand for testing, many companies are developing and validating novel COVID-19 diagnostics, including rapid antigen tests, which are seen by many as a solution for mass testing. In the absence of adequate testing materials in some countries, there have also been calls to consider wider uses for serological tests, which evaluate whether someone has had a COVID-19 infection by detecting antibodies.   

In this webinar, experts from the Virology, Immunology & Diagnostics Working Group of the COVID-19 Clinical Research Coalition will:  

• Give a brief overview of the working group and its current work to identify priority clinical research questions in the domain of virology, immunology, and diagnostics.   
• Provide an update on the various COVID-19 diagnostics and their applications, and comment on some of the challenges of their use in low-resource settings and related research questions. 

Watch the recording

Agenda:

• Welcome and introduction | Dr Christopher Woods (Duke University, USA)
• Molecular and antigen tests to detect COVID-19 | Prof. Wolfgang Preiser (Stellenbosch University & NHLS Tygerberg, South Africa)
• Serological testing for COVID-19 | Dr Wilber Sabiiti (University of St Andrews, UK)
• Q&A | Moderated by Prof. Shymaa Enany (Suez Canal University, Egypt)