Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System

Comparison of PCR Test Accuracy with Laboratory Data and CT SCAN in COVID19: A Systematic Review

Document Type : Review Articles

Authors

Mohebat Vali 1
Alireza Mirahmadizadeh 2
Zahra Maleki 1
Fatemeh Goudarzi 3
Arefe Abedinzade 4
Haleh Ghaem 5

1 Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Student of Research Committee, Department of Pediatrics, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

5 Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz

https://doi.org/10.30476/jhsss.2020.87530.1113
Abstract
Backgrounds:  Given the novelty of COVID-19, reviewing diagnostic methods can be of great help to community health policymakers. Considering the importance of diagnosing COVID-19 and the need for reducing the number of false positive and false negative cases that appear to be different in various diagnostic methods, this systematic review aimed at comparison of PCR test accuracy with laboratory data and CT SCAN in COVID-19.
Methods: In this systematic review, EMBASE (Elsevier, 2018), MEDLINE (National Library of
Medicine, 2018), Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics, 2018b), and Google Scholar
data bases were searched for the studies published prior to 3 April 2020. Based on the inclusion criteria, 20 out of 859 primarily screened studies were finally assessed.
Results: The results indicated that the laboratory diagnosis of viral nucleic acid could have false-negative results, and serological testing of virus-specific IgG and IgM antibodies should be used as an option for diagnosis. Moreover, chest Computerized Tomography (CT) was found to be more sensitive in comparison toReverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) (98% vs. 71%). Hence, the articles offered the combined use of chest CT, SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR, and multi-plex PCR. 
Conclusions: Follow-up RT-PCR and chest CT are necessary in COVID-19. In addition, serological testing of virus-specific IgG and IgM antibodies along with laboratory diagnosis of viral nucleic acid can lead to the highly sensitive and accurate diagnosis. Moreover, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) is one of the cost-effective methods in epidemic conditions in low- and middle-income countries.

Keywords

COVID-19
Diagnostic test
Accuracy
Systematic review
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Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System
Volume 9, Issue 1
January 2021
Pages 2-12

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