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http://dx.doi.org/10.15324/kjcls.2020.52.3.284

Laboratory Diagnosis of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) in Korea: Current Status, Limitation, and Challenges  

Song, Gi Seon (Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Graduate School, Eulji University)
Lee, You-Rim (Department of Senior Healthcare, Graduate School, Eulji University)
Kim, Sungmin (Department of Senior Healthcare, Graduate School, Eulji University)
Kim, Wontae (Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Graduate School, Eulji University)
Choi, Jungwon (Department of Senior Healthcare, Graduate School, Eulji University)
Yoo, Dahyeon (Department of Senior Healthcare, Graduate School, Eulji University)
Yoo, Jungyoung (Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Graduate School, Eulji University)
Jang, Kyung-Tae (Department of Senior Healthcare, Graduate School, Eulji University)
Lee, Jaewang (Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Graduate School, Eulji University)
Jun, Jin Hyun (Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Graduate School, Eulji University)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science / v.52, no.3, 2020 , pp. 284-295 More about this Journal
Abstract
In December 2019, the first coronavirus disease- 2019 (COVID-19) patient was reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Since then, the number of patients who suffered severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by the novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV) has increased dramatically in Korea. This new variant virus induces pulmonary diseases, including cough, sore throat, rhinorrhea, dyspnea, and pneumonia. Because SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus, real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR has been used widely to diagnose COVID-19. As the Korea Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (KCDC) and Ministry of Food & Drug Safety (MFDS) approved emergency use authorization, clinical specimens collected from COVID-19 patients and even healthy people have been clinically diagnosed by laboratory medicine. Based on a literature search, this paper reviews the epidemiology, symptoms, molecular diagnostics approved by KCDC, a current diagnosis of COVID-19 in the laboratories, the difference between molecular and serological diagnosis, and guidelines for clinical specimens. In addition, the Korean guidelines of biosafety for clinical laboratory scientists are evaluated to prevent healthcare-associated infection. The author's experience and lessons as clinical laboratory scientists will provide valuable insights to protect the domestic and international health community in this COVID-19 pandemic around the world.
Keywords
COVID-19; Laboratory biosafety; Laboratory diagnosis; Molecular diagnosis;
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