SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Diagnostics in China

The COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant problem involving health systems worldwide. Several diagnostic methods are reported for detecting the coronavirus in clinical, research, and public health laboratories. rRT-PCR is considered the gold standard; however, as it required skilled personnel and special equipment, rapid antigen tests have been developed and used as first-line screening. The serologic testing of antibodies can also be used to enhance the detection sensitivity and accuracy, which are used to assess the overall infection rate. This review summarizes the molecular techniques and serologic assays widely used in China and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques.