Biosafety Concerns During the Collection, Transportation, and Processing of COVID-19 Samples for Diagnosis
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Date
2020
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Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which started in China, has created
a panic among the general public and health care/laboratory workers. Thus far, there is no
medication or vaccine to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19. As the virus is
airborne and transmitted through droplets, there has been significant demand for face
masks and other personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of infection. Health
care and laboratory workers who come in close contact with infected people or material
are at a high risk of infection. Therefore, robust biosafety measures are required at hospitals
and laboratories to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Various diagnostic platforms
including of serological, molecular and other advanced tools and techniques have been
designed and developed for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 and each has its own merits
and demerits. Molecular assays such as real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain
reaction (rRT-PCR) has been used worldwide for diagnosis of COVID-19. Samples such
as nasal swabs or oropharyngeal swabs are used for rRT-PCR. Laboratory acquired infection
has been a significant problem worldwide, which has gained importance during the
current pandemic as the samples for rRT-PCR may contain intact virus with serious
threat. COVID-19 can spread to workers during the sampling, transportation, processing,
and disposal of tested samples. Here, we present an overview on advances in diagnosis of
COVID-19 and details the issues associated with biosafety procedures and potential
safety precautions to be followed during collection, transportation, and processing of
COVID-19 samples for laboratory diagnosis so as to avoid virus infection.
Description
TNV_AMR_51_2020_623
Keywords
Veterinary Science, Veterinary Pathology