IMPACT OF THE USE OF IMMUNOCHROMATOGRAPHIC TESTS IN CONTROLLING EPIDEMIOLOGICAL OUTBREAKS

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2, the acronym for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus or novel human coronavirus 2019 (HCoV-19), is associated with high transmissibility and damage primarily to the lower respiratory tract, resulting in a large number of deaths. (Khalil; Khalil, 2020). The work presented here focuses on the impact of immunochromatographic tests in controlling epidemiological outbreaks – COVID-19. The central problem is the need for rapid and accessible diagnostic methods to help address large-scale outbreaks, such as the one that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, which challenged healthcare systems worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, rapid tests gained ground because they offer immediate and accessible results to large groups. Even with limitations compared to more complex tests, their practicality and low cost made them essential. They have helped save time and expand the reach of screening at critical moments. Confronting epidemiological outbreaks requires rapid and safe responses capable of protecting lives and reducing social impacts. In this mission, early diagnosis becomes an essential ally in guiding health decisions. The immunochromatographic method is based on the interaction between the labeled antibody and the target, such as the virus's nucleocapsid or spike proteins. Although it has good specificity, its sensitivity is still limited compared to more robust molecular tests. (SOH et al., 2020; YÜCE et al., 2021; TOUMA, 2020). In this context, immunochromatographic tests—known as rapid tests—have been widely used to identify suspected cases in minutes, becoming important tools in the screening and epidemiological surveillance process.