The concept of a SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 rapid test

       Diagnostic and screening tests that combine simplicity, speed, and reliable, clear readouts are essential tools in clinical settings. Specific analytes in a sample, such as pathogens or biomarkers, can be detected by lateral flow assay. Lateral flow assays are generally very easy to use and provide rapid information as to the presence or absence of a given analyte in a biological sample.

       Most of COVID-19 rapid tests utilize sandwich immunoassay technology, which detects SARS-CoV-2 particles in samples by capturing viral antigen between a free labeled antibody and a fixed second antibody that each recognize different regions of the antigen. On the other hand, a rapid anti-virus IgM/IgG test uses a similar approach to detect human IgM and IgG antibodies that are reactive to SARS-CoV-2. This provides crucial information related to whether a patient has been exposed to the virus and where they are temporally in the clinical course of the disease. Please see Table 1 and Figure 1 for specific details.

Table 1. COVID-19 Rapid Tests

Figure 1: Relationship between the amount/type of antibody generated against SARS-CoV-2 and the clinical stage of COVID-19 disease. (In some young people or special conditions, IgM may appear on the fourth day.)

How do COVID-19 Rapid Tests Work?

1. SARS-CoV-2 rapid virus antigen test: Please click on link (https://youtu.be/PkczTPfIE20). Possible result readouts are shown in Figure 2 below.

Figure 2: Possible result readouts of a SARS-CoV-2 rapid virus antigen test.

2. SARS-CoV-2 rapid anti-virus IgM/IgG test: Please click on link (https://youtu.be/bAHFylmV5D8). Possible result readouts are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Possible result readouts of a SARS-CoV-2 rapid anti-virus IgM/IgG test.

GeneTex is proud to offer an extensive line of reagents to support the study of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19. Please see Table 2, Table 3, and Table 4 below to view listings of GeneTex's antibodies, recombinant proteins, and cell pellet blocks available now to accelerate your SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 research.

Table 2. Antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Research

Table 3. Recombinant Proteins for SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Research

Table 4. Cell Pellet Blocks for SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Research