COVID-19 Pandemic: Emerging Testing Solutions

SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19, a potentially lethal viral infection that can cause severe pneumonia, long-term adverse effects to several organ systems, and death in some individuals. Since the infection was first reported at the end of 2019, the entire world has endured widespread infection and the global diagnostics and biopharmaceutical industries have mobilized to create diagnostic tests, antiviral drugs, and vaccines to help combat this global pandemic. The objectives of this presentation are (1) to provide an update on the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) to discuss SARS-CoV-2 variants with respect to both spread and virulence, (3) to review the current SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in terms of both efficacy and limitations, and (4) to review the types of SARS-CoV-2 tests that are available. The final part of the presentation will review what has been most important during the first two years of the pandemic and discuss what will be most important going forward. The overall goal is for the audience to have an up-to-date understanding of the epidemiology, virology, vaccination, and testing for SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 and what to look forward to in the coming year as we work together to manage this very serious challenge to global health.

 

Learning Objectives

 

Update on the COVID-19 pandemic

 

• Types of testing and their uses
• Pros and cons of different SARS-CoV-2 tests: past and present
• SARS-CoV-2 testing in 2022: emerging trends