The widely used molecular diagnostic techniques for COVID-19 are reviewed, with a special focus on their strengths and limitations.
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The genetic variation of the viral genome and silent asymptomatic infection during the global battle against the nCoV epidemic are discussed.
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Some diagnosis strategies for those within the quarantine period at home or the assembly site are recommended.
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a pandemic for more than a year. With the expanding second wave of the pandemic in winter, the continuous evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has brought new issues, including the significance of virus mutations in infection and the detection of asymptomatic infection. In this review, we first introduced several major SARS-CoV-2 mutations since the COVID-19 outbreak and then mentioned the widely used molecular detection techniques to diagnose COVID-19, primarily focusing on their strengths and limitations. We further discussed the effects of viral genetic variation and asymptomatic infection on the molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The review finally summarized useful insights into the molecular diagnosis of COVID-19 under the special situation being challenged by virus mutation and asymptomatic infection.
