
WEBINAR
Only
COVID-19 Testing: What You Should Know
Wednesday, October 14, 2020, 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM EDT
Webinar
Presented By
The New York Academy of Sciences
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), swiftly evolved into a global pandemic in early 2020. With more than 30 million people infected worldwide and almost one million deaths to date, the novel coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on societies across the globe.
Large-scale diagnostic testing is a crucial epidemiological tool for containing the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19 and is widely viewed as key to safely reopening schools and economies. It is critical to understand who has the disease so that proper medical care, contact tracing, and isolation can be implemented, especially given that 40% of SARS-CoV-2 transmission events occur before the onset of symptoms.
This panel discussion will open by delving into the science behind COVID-19 testing types (e.g, molecular, antigen, serological), as well as the pros and cons of each. Real world applications of these tests will be discussed in terms of how they function in society. What are the current successes and failures of these tests and what is really needed to more safely open schools, return to offices, and engage in other activities? How can testing be better democratized so that all socio-economic sectors have equal access? Innovation is abundant for COVID-19 testing — understanding how new COVID-19 diagnostics are evaluated by the FDA for regulatory approval or Emergency Use Authorization will also be explored alongside novel ideas for next generation tests.