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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffWhen SARS first surfaced, no specific tests were available to help doctors diagnose the disease. Now several laboratory tests can help detect the virus, although all have some limitations. These tests include:
- DNA test (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test). Using secretions from your nose or a blood or stool sample, scientists look for DNA of the suspected pathogen.
- Blood test (serologic test). This checks a sample of your blood for the presence of antibodies to SARS-associated coronavirus. Antibodies are substances that your immune system produces to fight a specific infection.
- Virus test (viral culture). In this test, a small sample of tissue or fluid is placed on a special medium (culture) that's incubated for a period of time, then checked for the presence of the SARS virus.
References
- Hirsch MS, et al. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 17, 2008.
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS): Current SARS situation. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nciDOD/sars/situation.htm. Accessed Nov. 17, 2008.
- Hui DS, et al. Current features, pathogenesis and immunobiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 2008;14:241.
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome: Frequently asked questions about SARS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/faq.htm. Accessed Nov. 18, 2008.
- Frequently asked questions on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/csr/sars/sarsfaq/en. Accessed Nov. 18, 2008.
- Clinical, epidemiologic, and virologic features of SARS-CoV. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/guidance/core/app1.htm. Accessed Nov. 19, 2008.
- Tansey CM, et al. One-year outcomes and health care utilization in survivors of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2007;167:1312.
- Wong SS, et al. The management of coronavirus infections with particular reference to SARS. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2008;62:437.
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Supplement F: Laboratory guidance. Diagnostic assays. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/guidance/F/assays.htm. Accessed Nov. 19, 2008.
- Chu CM, et al. Role of lopinavir/ritonavir in the treatment of SARS: Initial virological and clinical findings. Thorax. 2004;59:252.
- Guidance about severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) for persons traveling to areas where SARS cases have been reported. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/travel_advice.htm. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Stockman LJ, et al. Severe acute respiratory syndrome in children. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 2007;26:68.
