Talk:COVID-19 testing

Split proposal

I propose splitting out the WP:PROSELINE of a ==History== section to a new article called Development of COVID-19 tests. I think this will let this article focus on the tests as they are, without having the events of each day or week for the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the way. I've written a mini-intro to that section, and I think the best approach is to leave that summary here, add {{main|Development of COVID-19 tests}} to the top, and move everything else to the new page. Does that sound okay to everyone else? WhatamIdoing (talk) 21:36, 20 March 2021 (UTC)

I agree. It's long enough to warrant its own article, and would make the article easier to read. 5a5ha seven (talk | contribs) 15:30, 22 March 2021 (UTC)

There being no immediate objections, I've made this split. WhatamIdoing (talk) 04:04, 25 March 2021 (UTC)

National responses

The § National responses section is poorly written: it's a random set of factoids about a random set of countries. The section should be rewritten or removed entirely. If anyone attempts to rewrite it, I suggest: (a) taking a global view instead of looking at countries separately (in other words, get rid of subsections); (b) focusing on different strategies chosen and major milestones achieved in deployment of tests instead of listing random data points. — UnladenSwallow (talk) 21:46, 8 April 2021 (UTC)

Incorrect test specificity definition

Under methods > Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test the following statement is made: "The term sensitivity refers to the capacity of a test to identify all infected people, while specificity is the ability of a test to detect a particular virus"

This is not the common meaning of specificity, and even if it is used this way in the source, it will still confuse readers.

Proposed change: "The term sensitivity refers to the capacity of a test to identify all infected people, while specificity is the ability of a test to detect those that are not infected." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:184:4781:2DA0:6040:8368:C30D:5C1A (talk) 15:27, 9 April 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 25 May 2021

Change "Use Commonwealth English" to "EngvarB" per tfd outcome Wikipedia:Templates_for_discussion#To_convert 81.2.252.231 (talk) 03:02, 25 May 2021 (UTC)

 Done Run n Fly (talk) 18:34, 25 May 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 17 August 2021

Immediately after "Antibody tests The body responds to a viral infection by producing antibodies that [help: delete "help"] neutralize the virus."[X] and

""Neutralization assay Neutralization assays assess whether sample antibodies prevent viral infection in test cells." [X]

it would be helpful for readers who do not know much about virus neutralization to cite:

Klasse PJ. Neutralization of Virus Infectivity by Antibodies: Old Problems in New Perspectives. Adv Biol. 2014;2014:157895. doi: 10.1155/2014/157895. Epub 2014 Sep 9. PMID: 27099867; PMCID: PMC4835181.

Likewise after the following passage, it would clarify the issue by adding that comprehensive reference about virus neutralization in general in two places:

"A NAb is an antibody that defends a cell from an infectious particle by neutralizing its biological effects. Neutralization renders the particle no longer infectious or pathogenic.[76][X] A binding antibody binds to the pathogen but the pathogen remains infective; the purpose can be to flag the pathogen for destruction by the immune system.[77]"[X]

But that passage requires several fundamental corrections thus:

A NAb is an antibody that neutralizes the infectivity of a virus particle by blocking its attachment to or entry into a susceptible cell; enveloped viruses, like e.g. SARS-CoV-2, are neutralized by the blocking of steps in the replicative cycle up to and including membrane fusion [76][X]. A non-neutralizing antibody either does not bind to the crucial structures on the virus surface or binds but leaves the virus particle infectious; the antibody may still contribute to the destruction of virus particles or infected cells by the immune system.[77][X] Virus Neutralization (talk) 15:58, 17 August 2021 (UTC)

 Done RFZYNSPY ^talk 00:23, 22 August 2021 (UTC)

 Note: Thanks for the amazingly thorough and expert edits. Keep 'em coming, Virus Neutralization! RFZYNSPY ^talk 00:25, 22 August 2021 (UTC)

english project

3rd wave of Corona virus advantage and disadvantage 106.200.166.173 (talk) 16:16, 24 August 2021 (UTC)