Course Outline
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- Coronavirus Background
- Overview
- Overview, continued
- Key Terms and Abbreviations:
- Which statement(s) are correct when describing Coronaviruses (CoVs)?
- CoVs that primarily infect human lung cells typically do so via a receptor for an enzyme termed Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2).
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
- Emergence and Transmission
- Transmission
- Symptoms and Severity
- What do we know about the transmission of the COVID-19 infection? More than one answer may be correct.
- Older people and individuals of all ages with medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease may be at higher risk of developing ...
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Treatment, continued
- Treatment, continued
- In late 2020, the FDA approved an antiviral drug to treat COVID-19. The drug is approved to treat adults and children ages 12 and older, weighing at l...
- All of following treatments have been approved by the NIH for COVID-19 infections especially in hospitalized patients and more severely ill patients e...
- COVID-19 Vaccines
- COVID-19 Vaccines, continued
- Vaccine Update: Additional Boosters
- The Delta Variant and Omicron
- Which statement(s) is true regarding COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S.?
- Recently, the CDC approved and recommended a COVID-19 second vaccine booster shot for the Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna vaccines and a booster for the J...
- Which statement is true regarding the "delta variant"?
- COVID-19 Diagnosis
- COVID Testing
- Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)
- Types of COVID-19 Tests
- Currently, a definitive diagnosis of COVID-19 is made using an Antibody (Serology) test to detect antibodies produced in response to the COVID-19 infe...
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA can issue a special type of approval for a product, devise, test, or treatment without full FDA approval process...
- Diagnostic (Viral) Tests
- Antibody (Serology) Tests
- Other COVID-19 Tests
- Point of Care (POC) Tests and “At Home” Testing
- Point of Care (POC) Tests and "At-Home" Testing, continued
- Point of Care (POC) Tests and "At-Home" Testing, continued
- Point-of-Care tests for COVID-19 are performed at or near where specimens are collected with results obtained within minutes rather than hours or seve...
- All of the following statements correctly describe "At Home" Testing for COVID-19 except
- The BinaxNOW Ag Card test is a commonly used at-home self-test to detect the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein from nasal swabs. What specific methodolo...
- Commercially Available COVID-19 Tests
- Examples of Commercial COVID-19 Tests
- Examples of Commercial COVID-19 Tests, continued
- Match the type of COVID-19 test to the commercial test!
- All of the following statements correctly describe the Bioperfectus COVID-19 real-time RT-PCR test except
- Which test is a two-step enzyme chemiluminescent immunoassay that uses paramagnetic particles to detect IgG antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus?
- Summary and Key Facts
- References
Additional Information
Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Intended Audience: Clinical laboratory professionals including medical laboratory scientists, medical technologists, and technicians. This course is also appropriate for clinical laboratory science and MLT students, pathologists, and clinicians.
Author Information: David J. Moffa, PhD, BCLD, has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry as an executive manager, clinical laboratory director, and medical laboratory scientist. He is currently a technical consultant for Kentmere Healthcare, Wilmington, DE, and until his retirement, was the Regional Director for LabCorp, Inc. He holds a PhD in medical biochemistry from the School of Medicine, West Virginia University.
Reviewer Information:
Alexandru Casapu, MBA, MLS(ASCP)
CM, PBT
CM has over 20 years of experience as a medical laboratory scientist, section supervisor, and laboratory manager. He is the former Director of Clinical Laboratory Technology Program at Georgia Piedmont Technical College. He is currently a Program Director at MediaLab, Inc. Alexandru holds BS degrees in Biology and Medical Technology from Clark Atlanta University and a MBA from the University of Georgia.
Prior to her retirement in 2012, Jenny Camele was employed by Laboratory Corporation of America as the manager of customer service operations for the Fairmont West Virginia Region and a Quality Assurance committee member. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology from West Virginia University.
Course Description: This course provides essential background information on COVID-19 with emphasis on various testing methodologies available for the identification/diagnosis of suspected COVID-19 infections and to help identify possible prior COVID-19 infections and provide useful information for epidemiological and research studies. In addition, the course emphasizes the difference between diagnostic (viral) tests and antibody (serology) tests when used for COVID-19 testing. Updated information on COVID-19 treatments including current updates on vaccines are also provided.
