Combining antibody and molecular testing for COVID-19 is recommended for a complete screening of population in the current pandemic scenario

The 2019-nCoV IgG / IgM Rapid Test Cassette by Acro Biotech Inc. was used in a recent study by Alessandro Pancrazzi et al. They evaluated a dual laboratory approach for COVID-19 consisting of patient care reports for viral RNA detection on swabs and rapid serological tests in 516 patients (192 symptomatic or paucisymptomatic and 324 asymptomatic). This study aimed to evaluate the multiple approach, based on molecular analysis of swabs and serological screening for Ig G and M, in order to decrease improper diagnosis and viral spread in the general territory and the hospital structures.

In their findings, the serological test could be important to confirm negative and to clarify indeterminate molecular results, so health systems will have to consider the role of serology in their evaluation algorithms. Serological investigation is a simple method for the laboratory; these tests, based on the chromatographic technique, are fast (about 15 min to execute) and do not require additional instrumentation.

Their data confirm that serological and molecular approaches should not be considered as two alternative systems for the monitoring of virus spreading, rather they seem to be two necessary applications. The molecular test identifies the most part of infected patients and the simultaneous serological investigation helps to clarify diagnostic response of the indeterminate molecular cases. Used together the molecular and serological analyses help the virologist to determine disease status and to support clinical decisions.

Read the full study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0009912020307918?via%3Dihub