29th September, 2020
Presenter: Dr Gabriel Gonzalez-Escobar
Summary: September 29, 2020 - CARPHA COVID-19 Health Rounds Webinar 4 "Laboratory Diagnostics and Patient Immunity" was well attended by national laboratory directors, regional laboratory experts and laboratory professionals from both the public and private sector. During his presentation, Dr. Gabriel Gonzalez-Escobar, Head, Laboratory Services and Networks, CARPHA Medical Microbiology Laboratory, discussed the various diagnostic platforms including antigen-based rapid tests, an update on serological assays and guidance on the use of the gold standard molecular methods (Polymerase Chain Reaction or PCR). A total of one hundred and thirteen (113) participants from seventeen (17) CMS joined the discussion on what is known about patient immunity, ongoing research into the link between asymptomatic presentation and immunity, and the most updated technical guidance available from the WHO, PAHO and CARPHA. An overview of CARPHA's Guidance on the Selection and Evaluation of Diagnostic Kits was given to attendees as a tool that can be used to evaluate existing and new test kits for COVID-19 diagnosis prior to purchase. The recording of the webinar is available here.
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