Expert Consensus on Laboratory Testing for SARS-CoV-2

With the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019, the laboratory testing for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) has become the key to the epidemic prevention and control. Based on the questions, issues from the clinical practice and the latest research, the Sub-committee of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Chinese Hospital Association proposed "Expert Consensus on Laboratory Testing for SARS-CoV-2". The consensus panel is composed by experts in clinical microbiology, molecular biology and immunology laboratory medicine. The consensus describes the technological characteristics, precautions of clinical application, and biosafety requirements. It also includes the coping strategies for the most frequent problems and the challenges in testing and results explanation of commonly used clinical methods including nucleic acid, antibody and antigen tests, and combined testing of nucleic acid and antibody. We expect this consensus could provide guidances and reference opinions on how to conduct the precise laboratory testing for SARS-CoV-2 on the epidemic prevention and control.