Saliva-based testing for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection : A meta-analysis

Non peer reviewe

Rapid increase in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence during the emergence of Omicron variant, Finland

Non peer reviewe

The phylodynamics of SARS-CoV-2 during 2020 in Finland

Finland has had a low incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infections as compared to most European countries. Here we report the origins and turnover of SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulating in Finland in 2020. SARS-CoV-2 introduced to Finland in January 2020 and spread rapidly across southern Finland during spring. We observed rapid turnover among Finnish lineages during this period. Clade 20C became the most prevalent among sequenced cases and was replaced by other strains in fall 2020. Bayesian phylogeographic reconstructions suggested 42 independent introductions into Finland during spring 2020, mainly from Italy, Austria, and Spain, which might have been the source for a third of cases. The investigations of the original introductions of SARS-CoV-2 to Finland during the early stages of the pandemic and of the subsequent lineage dynamics could be utilized to assess the role of transboundary movements and effects of early intervention and public health measures.Peer reviewe

Real-life clinical sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test in symptomatic patients

Background Understanding the false negative rates of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing is pivotal for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic and it has implications for patient management. Our aim was to determine the real-life clinical sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR. Methods This population-based retrospective study was conducted in March-April 2020 in the Helsinki Capital Region, Finland. Adults who were clinically suspected of SARS-CoV-2 infection and underwent SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing, with sufficient data in their medical records for grading of clinical suspicion were eligible. In addition to examining the first RT-PCR test of repeat-tested individuals, we also used high clinical suspicion for COVID-19 as the reference standard for calculating the sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR. Results All 1,194 inpatients (mean [SD] age, 63.2 [18.3] years; 45.2% women) admitted to COVID-19 cohort wards during the study period were included. The outpatient cohort of 1,814 individuals (mean [SD] age, 45.4 [17.2] years; 69.1% women) was sampled from epidemiological line lists by systematic quasi-random sampling. The sensitivity (95% CI) for laboratory confirmed cases (repeat-tested patients) was 85.7% (81.5-89.1%) inpatients; 95.5% (92.2-97.5%) outpatients, 89.9% (88.2-92.1%) all. When also patients that were graded as high suspicion but never tested positive were included in the denominator, the sensitivity (95% CI) was: 67.5% (62.9-71.9%) inpatients; 34.9% (31.4-38.5%) outpatients; 47.3% (44.4-50.3%) all. Conclusions The clinical sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing was only moderate at best. The relatively high false negative rates of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing need to be accounted for in clinical decision making, epidemiological interpretations, and when using RT-PCR as a reference for other tests.Peer reviewe

Koronainfektion laboratoriodiagnostiikka: Miten laboratorio valitsee menetelmät?

Laboratoriot valitsevat käyttöönsä testit käyttötarkoituksen ja soveltuvuuden perusteella siten, että diagnostiikka on mahdollisimman vaikuttavaa. PCR on luotettavin koronavirustartunnan toteamiseen, mutta etenkin tuoreissa tartunnoissa voidaan käyttää antigeenitestejä.</p

Koronainfektion laboratoriodiagnostiikka : miten laboratorio valitsee menetelmät?

Laboratoriot valitsevat käyttöönsä testit käyttötarkoituksen ja soveltuvuuden perusteella siten, että diagnostiikka on mahdollisimman vaikuttavaa. PCR on luotettavin koronavirustartunnan toteamiseen, mutta etenkin tuoreissa tartunnoissa voidaan käyttää antigeenitestejä.publishedVersio

Koronainfektion laboratoriodiagnostiikka : miten laboratorio valitsee menetelmät?

Laboratoriot valitsevat käyttöönsä testit käyttötarkoituksen ja soveltuvuuden perusteella siten, että diagnostiikka on mahdollisimman vaikuttavaa. PCR on luotettavin koronavirustartunnan toteamiseen, mutta etenkin tuoreissa tartunnoissa voidaan käyttää antigeenitestejä

Introduction and Rapid Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant and Dynamics of BA.1 and BA.1.1 Sublineages, Finland, December 2021

Multiple introductions of SARS-COV-2 Omicron variant BA.1 and BA.1.1. lineages to Finland were detected in early December 2021. Within 3 weeks, Omicron overtook Delta as the most common variant in the capital region. Sequence analysis demonstrated the emergence and spread through community transmission of a large cluster of BA.1.1 virus.Peer reviewe