COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory and vascular disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since its outbreak in December 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 has spread around the world. Globally, up to January 5, 2021, there have been 84 million confirmed cases of the COVID-19, including 1.8 million deaths, reported to WHO. The COVID-19 pandemic is the defining global health crisis. The human family is suffering under an almost intolerable burden of loss. The climbing death toll is staggering, and we must work together to slow the spread of the COVID-19. The good news is that some vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been successfully developed and are testing in clinical trials. Clinical laboratory testing plays a critical role in the COVID-19 pandemic, including the COVID-19 infection diagnosis, providing critical information to clinicians regarding prognosis, disease course, and response to therapy, and the evaluation of COVID-19 vaccine’s protection.
The purposes of this webinar is to: (a) to provide the background of the COVID-19; (b) discuss the significance and application of clinical laboratory testing in COVID-19 pandemic: molecular testing especially RT-PCR, serological antibody testing including IgG/IgM, S-RBD and neutralizing antibodies, and (c) to summarize the biomarker analysis in complications, with an emphasis on how to monitor the cardiovascular injury caused by COVID-19.