SARS-CoV-2 infection has generated the biggest pandemic since the influenza outbreak of 1918–1919. One clear difference between these pandemics has been the ability to test for the presence of the virus or for evidence of infection. This review examined the performance characteristics of sample types via PCR detection of the virus, of antibody testing, of rapid viral antigen detection kits and computerised tomography (CT) scanning. It was found that combined detection approaches, such as the incorporation of CT scans, may reduce the levels of false negatives obtained by PCR detection in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, while sputum and oral throat washing sample types should take precedence over swabbing when available. Rt-PCR assays for detection of the virus remain the gold-standard method for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and can be used effectively on pooled samples for widespread screening. The novel Oxford antibody assay was found to have the highest sensitivity and specificity of four currently available commercial antibody kits but should only be used during a specific timeframe post-symptom onset. Further research into transmission modes between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients is needed. Analysis of the performance characteristics of different sampling and detection methods for SARS-CoV-2 showed that timing of sampling and testing methods used can greatly influence the rate of false-positive and false-negative test results, thereby influencing viral spread.

The purpose of this study was to determine survivability of Escherichia coli, Deinococcus radiodurans and Paraburkholderia fungorum under Mars-simulated conditions for freeze-thawing (−80 °C to +30 °C) and UV exposure alone and in combination. E. coli ATCC 25922, D. radiodurans and P. fungorum remained viable following 20 successive freeze-thaw cycles, exhibiting viabilities of 2.3%, 96% and 72.6%, respectively. E. coli ATCC 9079 was non-recoverable by cycle 9. When exposed to UV irradiation, cells withstood doses of 870 J/m2 (E. coli ATCC 25922), 200 J/m2 (E. coli ATCC 9079), 50,760 J/m2 (D. radiodurans) and 44,415 J/m2 (P. fungorum). Data suggests P. fungorum is highly UV-resistant. Combined freeze-thawing with UV irradiation showed freezing increased UV resistance in E. coli ATCC 25922, E. coli DSM 9079 and D. radiodurans by 6-fold, 30-fold and 1.2-fold, respectively. Conversely, freezing caused P. fungorum to exhibit a 1.75-fold increase in UV susceptibility. Strain-dependent experimentation demonstrated that freezing increases UV resistance and prolongs survival. These findings suggest that exposure to short wavelength UV rays (254 nm) and temperature cycles resembling the daily fluctuating conditions on Mars do not significantly affect survival of D. radiodurans, P. fungorum and E. coli ATCC 25922 following 20 days of exposure.

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We conducted a comprehensive analysis of patient demographics and laboratory tests encompassing Real Time PCR (RT-qPCR) and serology for SARS-CoV-2 in addition to blood components and clinical blood markers for COVID-19 disease. All relevant literature was included up to 15 July 2020 and multiple studies were analysed in tandem to correlate findings. For RT-qPCR, nasopharyngeal swabs are the most suitable samples based on detection rates by sample, but may require repeat testing. One-week post-symptom onset, serological testing is a more stable marker. Antibody titers have been linked to disease severity. Several clinical blood components and markers have been reported to be prognostically useful; however, care is needed when making interpretation owing to the association between raised levels of these being found for the co-morbidities that predispose to worse prognosis in COVID-19. Challenges in the current study when finding the information presented in this paper suggest the need for a quality assured database that outlines the complete set of results, anonymised patient data for each entry and a set of internationally-agreed guidelines for complete laboratory testing, documentation and open-access reporting. We suggest that such information would be useful to help with patient diagnosis and management, worldwide. Contribution/Originality: This review compiles a large set of data on the efficacy of different laboratory tests in predicting severity of sequelae post COVID-19 infection and it recommends that anonymized patient results might be added to an international database from the time a pandemic is announced to help with patient management, worldwide. 1. INTRODUCTION There have been significant pandemics already in the first two decades of the 21 st century. For example, by July 2003, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) pandemic had resulted in 8,096 reported cases, including 774 deaths in 27 countries [1]. Certain severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-like viruses found in bats have recently been shown to be able to infect human cells without adaptation, suggesting the potential for SARS to re-emerge [2]. In May 2015, a single person returning from the Middle East started a nosocomial outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in South Korea that involved 16 hospitals and 186 patients [3]. By July 2017, 2,040 MERS-CoV laboratory-confirmed cases, resulting in 712 deaths, were reported globally.