Coronavirus COVID-19

Specimens

• Nasal/Throat swabs collected using BD dry swabs/Remel M4RT/Copan 321C UTM or Copan 147C / Citoswab or miraclean swabs.
• Samples should be taken from symptomatic patients between days 1–5 from onset of symptoms.
• Specimens should be sent to the laboratory at ambient temperature in Category B packaging and labelled as containing HIGH RISK specimen.
• For best results, please send samples on the day they are taken. However, samples are stable at ambient temperature for 7 days.
   

The assay

Infection with SARS-CoV-2, an RNA virus, is diagnosed using reverse-transcriptase real-time PCR. The assays used at TDL show a minimum sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 100%, with no cross-reactivity with other viruses.

Specimens

• SST/Serum
  • Capillary self collection can be used for the Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S and Roche Elecsys  Anti-SARS-CoV-2 assays.
• Testing should be undertaken 14 days or more following exposure, onset of symptoms, or post-vaccination.
• For best results, please send samples on the day they are taken. However, samples are stable at ambient temperature for 7 days.
   

The assays

TDL offers 4 assays for the detection of antibodies targeted against SARS-CoV-2:

• Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S (Spike) – spike protein, quantitative, total antibodies NEW
• Roche Elecsys  Anti-SARS-CoV-2 – nucleocapsid (N) protein, qualitiative, total antibodies
• Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG – nucleocapsid protein, qualitiative, IgG antibodies
• Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgM – spike protein, qualitiative, IgM antibodies

Image: CDC/ Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS