COVID-19 Testing / Coronavirus Diagnostic Laboratory Equipment

Coronaviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses that belong to the Coronaviridae family. It is the emergence of the most current coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus responsible for the disease Covid-19), which has the research community’s attention. The high infection and mortality rates has made the development of testing kits and a vaccine paramount.

COVID-19 consists of four major proteins including a protruding glycoprotein (spike), membrane, envelope, and nucleocapsid. Given its multi-protein structure scientists are utilizing EIA immunoassays, ELISA immunoassays, reverse transcription PC assays (RT-PCR) and real-time quantitative PCR assays (qRT-PCR). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing test kits for public health laboratories (PHLs) in order to perform real-time RT-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) detection for SARS-CoV-2. [1] Full protocol for CDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is available for download and intended for the presumptive qualitative detection of nucleic acid from the 2019-nCoV. [2]

Coronavirus assays and various staple lab equipment products are utilized in coronavirus testing which includes, but is not limited to:

• rRT-PCR Reagents
• Real-Time PCR Detection Systems
• Nucleic Acid Extraction Systems
• PCR Work Stations