Nine examples of when to use COVID-19 investigative procedures
FIND has supported partner Halteres Associates in developing diagnostic use cases for SARS-CoV-2 tests, which highlight the comparison, contrast and implications for each.
This report outlines nine diagnostic use cases where further assays or investigative procedures are warranted.
It provides a description of each use case, other possible technologies required, more information on the sample and comments.
Use cases for SARS-CoV-2 assays
- Triage of symptomatic individuals in an epidemic setting
- Triage of symptomatic individuals in endemic settings
- Triage of at-risk pre-symptomatic and symptomatic individuals in endemic settings
- Confirmatory testing
- Diagnosis of symptomatic individuals in endemic or epidemic settings
- Differential diagnosis in endemic or epidemic settings
- Previous SARS-CoV-2 exposure
- Surveillance in sites of previous or potential outbreaks
- Environmental monitoring.
Learning curve
Before developing systems, however, it is essential that test developers understand the details of use cases for SARS-CoV-2 testing.
This includes who will be tested, by whom, the site of testing, using which samples, under what conditions, and what the minimum acceptable clinical performance requirements are likely to be.
The most important component is intended use: what clinical decision the test will enable, and in what patient population.
For more information, contact us or Halteres Associates.