Discussion on the clinical value of combined detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid, antigen and antibody

ABSTRACT

Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid detection is the gold standard, and antigen-antibody detection is an important auxiliary method for nucleic acid detection. Nucleic acid and antigen detection is direct evidence of early infection in patients, but it cannot indicate whether the patient has been infected before. Antibody testing is indirect evidence of patient infection. Positive IgM indicates acute infection, and positive IgG indicates mid-to-late disease or previous infection. At the same time, antibody testing can be used as an important indicator for evaluating the clinical effects of vaccines and antibody therapeutics. Although antigen detection can be used as direct evidence for early diagnosis, it is not highly sensitive and has not yet been recognized. Therefore, the combined detection of nucleic acid, antigen and antibody can improve the sensitivity and specificity of clinical detection, and provide an important basis for resumption of work and production.