AIP Publishing LLC
AIP Publishing LLC
  • pubs.aip.org
  • AIP
  • AIP China
  • University Science Books
  • Resources
    • Researchers
    • Librarians
    • Publishing Partners
    • Topical Portfolios
    • Commercial Partners
  • Publications

    Find the Right Journal

    Explore the AIP Publishing collection by title, topic, impact, citations, and more.
    Browse Journals

    Latest Content

    Read about the newest discoveries and developments in the physical sciences.
    See What's New

    Publications

    • Journals
    • Books
    • Physics Today
    • AIP Conference Proceedings
    • Scilight
    • Find the Right Journal
    • Latest Content
  • About
    • About Us
    • News and Announcements
    • Careers
    • Events
    • Leadership
    • Contact
  • pubs.aip.org
  • AIP
  • AIP China
  • University Science Books

Out of Many COVID-19 Tests, Which One to Choose?

  • December 1, 2020
  • APL Bioengineering
  • News
Share:

From the Journal: APL Bioengineering

WASHINGTON, December 1, 2020 — Until a vaccine is available, curbing the coronavirus pandemic relies heavily on how quickly a potentially exposed individual can be tested and quarantined. However, the current diagnostic techniques vary in reliability and relevance, so an understanding of which test is most appropriate for a given circumstance is necessary to avoid false reports.

Various diagnostic techniques can be used for sensing the RNA of SARS-CoV-2. CREDIT: Saadet Alpdagtas and Elif Ilhan
Various diagnostic techniques can be used for sensing the RNA of SARS-CoV-2. CREDIT: Saadet Alpdagtas and Elif Ilhan

Researchers from Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Marmara University, Yildiz Technical University, and Istanbul Yeni Yuzyil University evaluated the available diagnostic techniques and determined key steps required for better testing moving forward. They present their findings in the journal APL Bioengineering, from AIP Publishing.

“Rapid diagnosis and rapid isolation are the key factors for prevention of the pandemic,” said Oguzhan Gunduz, one of the authors.

Laboratory tests that target the virus’s genes — known as real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays — are currently the gold standard for testing. But according to the Food and Drug Administration, these could give false negatives.

These tests depend on the presence of antibodies, which may not have yet been developed in the early stages of infection. Since different antibodies appear at different stages, diagnostic tests must be chosen to target the appropriate immune response based on when an individual is believed to have been infected.

“There is not any available single test for the entire stage of the disease,” Gunduz said. “However, I think it may be possible to detect the attack at any stage of the disease with nano-based sensor technologies.”

The group emphasizes point-of-care testing as an urgent objective. These types of tests would help detect the virus on site without the need for laboratory equipment or specialized personnel, eliminating or reducing the wait time between testing and obtaining results.

“A quite sensitive test that can measure the existent tiny number of viral particles, or any parameter related to the particle — weight, structure, charge, diameter — can provide rapid and early diagnosis,” said Gunduz.

When asked about the potential for a more comfortable testing method, he stressed that this depends on the sampling method and its sensitivity. A fingertip blood test or a saliva test could potentially be underway, though these have their own drawbacks.

“There are such tests, but they come up with accuracy and specificity issues,” Gunduz said.

###

For more information:
Larry Frum
media@aip.org
301-209-3090

Article Title

Evaluation of current diagnostic methods for COVID-19

Authors

Saadet Alpdagtas, Elif Ilhan, Ebru Uysal, Mustafa Sengor, Cem Bülent Üstündağ and Oguzhan Gunduz

Author Affiliations

Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Marmara University, Yildiz Technical University, and Istanbul Yeni Yuzyil University


APL Bioengineering

APL Bioengineering is devoted to research at the intersection of biology, physics, and engineering. The journal publishes high-impact manuscripts specific to the understanding and advancement of physics and engineering of biological systems. APL Bioengineering is the new home for the bioengineering and biomedical research communities.

https://aip.scitation.org/journal/apb

Share:
  • Clothing, Tattoos Could Be Used to Monitor Patient Health
  • Batteries Mimic Mammal Bones for Stability

Keep Up With AIP Publishing

Sign up for the AIP newsletter to receive the latest news and information from AIP Publishing.
Sign Up

AIP PUBLISHING

1305 Walt Whitman Road,
Suite 110
Melville, NY 11747
(516) 576-2200

Resources

  • Researchers
  • Librarians
  • Publishing Partners
  • Commercial Partners

About

  • About Us
  • Careers 
  • Leadership

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Terms Of Use
  • Privacy Policy

© 2025 AIP Publishing LLC