Respiratory diseases (incl. SARS-CoV-2)

Clinical information

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, previously called 2019-nCoV) belongs to the family of coronaviruses and, like SARS-CoV, is classified in the genus Betacoronavirus. At the end of 2019, SARS-CoV-2 caused an infection wave which quickly spread worldwide and was declared a pandemic by the WHO in March 2020. Just a few days after the first report about patients with pneumonia of unclear origin, SARS-CoV-2 was identified as the causative pathogen and the associated disease named COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 is mainly transmitted via aerosols during speaking, breathing, coughing or sneezing or at close contact with an infected person. The incubation period is three to seven, maximally 14 days. The symptoms and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection can vary significantly. The most common symptoms encompass fever, dry cough, breathing difficulties and fatigue. Therefore, in the majority of patients, the infection manifests as a mild febrile illness with irregular lung infiltrates. However, some patients –especially older and chronically ill persons– develop severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Diagnostics

Suitable methods for the diagnosis of an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection are the detection of viral RNA by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or of virus protein in sample material from the upper (nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swab) or lower respiratory tract (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, tracheal secretion, sputum, etc.). RT-PCR allows pathogen detection within a few days after virus contact even in subclinical or asymptomatic courses and for up to 14 days after onset of potential symptoms.

The EURORealTime SARS-CoV-2 and the EURORealTime SARS-CoV-2 Fast enable highly specific and sensitive direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 by means of reverse transcriptase real-time PCR. Reverse transcription, amplification and detection of the SARS-CoV-2 cDNA are performed in a single reaction. In addition, the EURORealTime SARS-CoV-2 Fast comes with a time-saving RT-PCR protocol that enables detection within approximately 45 minutes (depending on the type of instrument used). For optimised and even more cost-effective diagnostics EUROIMMUN offers a complete solution for automated sample processing, including sample identification, nucleic acid extraction and PCR preparation on the Automated Workstation Pre-NAT II, combined with amplification and detection on the thermal cycler EONIS Q96 as well as standardised and objective raw data analysis using the EURORealTime Analysis software.

For differential diagnostics in symptoms associated with COVID-19, influenza and other respiratory diseases such as common colds, EUROIMMUN offers additional products: ° To differentiate between the parameters SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus and RSV, the EURORealTime assays SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A/B* or RSV are available as individual tests or for combined detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A/B. If you want to detect additional respiratory viruses such as RSV and rhinovirus to facilitate, for example, differentiated treatment or isolation of patients in cohorts, choose the EUROArray PneuVir (18 pathogens).

Moreover, the EUROIMMUN product portfolio for COVID-19 diagnostics encompasses various serological tests for differentiated detection of antibodies of different immunoglobulin classes (IgA, IgM, IgG) against different SARS-CoV-2 antigens, a surrogate virus neutralisation test as well as an interferon-gamma release assay.

*Soon available

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EURORealTime SARS-CoV-2

EUROArrayPneuVir

^{EURORealTime SARS-CoV-2/Influenza A/B is not available in the USA}