An outlook on covid-۱۹ detection methods

Background and Aim : On ۳۰ January ۲۰۲۰, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global public health emergency over the outbreak of the new coronavirus, called the ۲۰۱۹ novel Coronavirus (۲۰۱۹-nCoV), which originated in Wuhan City, in the Hubei Province of China. Since then, COVID-۱۹ has continuously spread to more than ۲۰۰ countries; the number of confirmed infections reached ۱۳,۹۵۲,۴۰۶ on ۱۷ July ۲۰۲۰ and the death has risen to ۵۸۵,۷۲۷. The manifestation of the COVID-۱۹ infection is highly nonspecific, including respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, dyspnea, and viral pneumonia. Since any treatment or vaccine is not yet discovered for the covid-۱۹ virus, early diagnosis of the disease and rapid quarantine of the carriers of the disease by separating them from healthy people is the most important method recommended by the WHO. Late diagnosis of Coronavirus disease in patients is one of the main obstacles to controlling the disease, which results in serious health, economic and social repercussions. With the aim of improving diagnosis tools, this research was conducted to providing an outlook on available methods for COVID-۱۹ virus detection.Methods : Research articles published concerning diagnosis of coronavirus disease, were analyzed and discussed to develop new clinical diagnosis tools.Results : Use of detection methods based on the reproduction of the virus's genomic material and based on identification of the virus-specific antibodies, to identify and diagnose the coronavirus disease in suspicious cases, has been approved by regulatory organizations and by health systems in different countries. The challenges related to the use of any of the confirmed diagnostic methods limit the use of any of the available methods for timely diagnosis of the disease in suspicious cases. Hence, development of new diagnostic methods has become an important goal for reducing the growth rate of the disease and helping to accelerate the process of combating the disease. Accessible, inexpensive and specific diagnostic tests for COVID-۱۹ infection are urgently required to confirm suspected cases, screen patients, and conduct virus surveillance.Conclusion : There has been a rapid surge in research in response to the outbreak of COVID-۱۹. Although the studies are conducted relevant to control the current public emergency, more high-quality research is needed to provide valid and reliable ways to manage this kind of public health emergency in both the short- and long-term.

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ , coronavirus disease detection methods , review