Is there value in a two-step diagnostic algorithm to confirm SARS-CoV-2 in South Africa?

To the Editor: SARS-CoV-2 molecular platforms that attained Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorizations are currently being implemented worldwide. These molecular platforms incorporate at least two gene targets, with positive percent agreements (PPA) of 95 - 100% and negative percent a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSouth African medical journal Vol. 110; no. 7; pp. 564 - 565
Main Authors Dowling, W., Opperman, C.J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published South Africa South African Medical Association NPC 02.06.2020
Subjects
Algorithms
Betacoronavirus
Clinical Laboratory Techniques - methods
Contact Tracing - methods
Coronavirus Infections - diagnosis
COVID-19
COVID-19 Testing
Epidemiological Monitoring
Humans
Mass Screening - methods
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral - diagnosis
Predictive Value of Tests
SARS-CoV-2
Sensitivity and Specificity
South Africa
South Africa
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Summary:To the Editor: SARS-CoV-2 molecular platforms that attained Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorizations are currently being implemented worldwide. These molecular platforms incorporate at least two gene targets, with positive percent agreements (PPA) of 95 - 100% and negative percent agreements (NPA) of 94 - 100%. The South African (SA) Ministerial Advisory Group on COVID-19 recently outlined a mass screening programme involving a broadened case definition, active community surveillance and extensive contact tracing, with the aim of undertaking ~30 000 molecular SARS-CoV-2 screening tests daily in SA.
ISSN:0256-9574
2078-5135
DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i7.14853