Objective: To review the current diagnostic methodology available for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by new Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Method: This review critically analyses the merits and limitations of the recent COVID-19 diagnostics being used for disease prophylaxis and its mitigation. Multiple research papers from 2019-2022 were consulted. Many novel diagnostics have been included, such as LAMP, CRISPR, AI and other POC techniques, along with conventional RT-PCR and CT -SCAN. These have been compared based on principle, protocol, sensitivity, specificity, cost-effectiveness and their pros and cons. Findings: Mass Spectrometry and Loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) were seen to be the most sensitive and specific. They were also very rapid. However, Mass Spectrometry is expensive, as it requires sophisticated instrumentation. LAMP on the other hand, does not require expensive machinery, and thus is a better choice. Novelty: This review has covered most of the techniques, which were not earlier covered in reviews. We have compiled all data in one manuscript for the ease of readers. We have also talked about the diagnostic protocols made in India and compared their sensitivities and specificities.

COVID-19 manifested itself as a global pandemic in 2019 but even in 2021, it is still not successfully contained. This virus has claimed millions of lives worldwide and rendered many more jobless. Apart from causing mild to severe pneumonia, the virus has also caused a loss of livelihood for thousands globally, along with widespread trauma and depression. Since the transmission rate of the virus is so high, temporary prophylaxis relied on sanitization, wearing masks and physical distancing. However, a long-term solution for stopping viral spread is vaccination. Apart from being the fastest way to induce immunity against the virus, vaccination is also the cheapest and most practical way. However, a vaccine can only be commercially available after it has passed through various clinical trial phases. So far, more than two hundred potential vaccine candidates underwent different phases of the clinical trial, and some of the front-runners have shown more than 90% efficacy. This review has compiled all such vaccine candidates, their types, their modes of action, and the associated pros and cons. The current advances in clinical trials of vaccines have also been discussed, such as plant-based and cocktail vaccines that have recently emerged. Nowadays, novel strains like Delta plus are also emerging and posing a threat. Thus, it is mandatory to get vaccinated and choose a vaccine that provides long-term protection against multiple strains.