The COVID-19 Pandemic - Testing and PCR Diagnostics for COVID

Explore a comprehensive seminar on COVID-19 testing and PCR diagnostics presented by Dr Kate Templeton, Consultant Clinical Scientist in Microbiology at Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh. Delve into crucial topics such as incubation periods, diagnosis methods, sample collection, PCR performance, and challenges faced in testing. Learn about Scotland's approach to testing, the importance of turnaround times, and the value of repeat testing. Gain insights on various aspects of COVID-19 testing, including postmortem testing, environmental monitoring, contact tracing, antibody testing, and staff screening. Discover the complexities of PCR capacity, full-length sequencing, and the detection of asymptomatic carriers. Address questions about isolation protocols, discharge screening, and the testing of symptomatic individuals. Examine the sensitivity of tests and their implications for virus detection and control measures.

Introduction
Incubation period
Diagnosis
The right sample
Chest xray
Transport
PCR
Challenges
Scotland
PCR performance
Value of repeating negatives
Algorithm
turnaround time
patient back to patient
rugby
Summary
Questions
Caffeine tests
Caffeine in Scotland
False negatives
Second sample
Postmortem testing
Lung tissue testing
Stool testing
Infection control
Environmental monitoring
Tracing
Contact tracing
PCR capacity
Do you think it is real
Antibody testing
Isolation
Discharge screening
Fulllength sequencing
Have you had any carriers
Testing of staff
Testing of symptomatic people
Other viruses
Sensitivity
Conclusion