As the lab industry watches the number of confirmed coronavirus cases increase, everyone connected to the disease – no matter how remotely – is getting an education in some way. Unfortunately for many people, this education has come with a high tuition that has cost lives around the world.
Beginning on December 31, the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) presented the clinical diagnostics industry with an emerging disease that forced lab professionals worldwide to pay attention to it, and what it’s capable of in a short period of time. As the virus expanded its global reach, it claimed direct responsibility for over 40,000 confirmed cases and over 900 deaths (as of February 10). In this time, it also taught the industry that there was still a lot for us to learn about COVID-19 before it would no longer be a threat to the world at large.
Some of the most important lessons have been those learned by doctors in China who learned how to recognize and treat early signs of the disease, as well as scientists at agencies like the WHO, CDC and FDA who discovered similarities with past coronaviruses such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome).
Perhaps the most impressive side effect of COVID-19 has been the proactive response by over 20 diagnostics companies who are aggressively working on developing tests to detect coronavirus. In addition, numerous labs are purposely growing coronavirus in attempts to create a vaccine for it. These are the people whose motivation grows with every newly confirmed case or associated death, believing in the possibility of another coronavirus outbreak someday, and that education, prevention and early detection will make it more bearable throughout the world.
In this issue of MLO, we offer more information on COVID-19 in our special feature that looks at governments, diagnostic companies and providers and how they are responding to the coronavirus outbreak. In addition, we look at some of the best practices of RT-PCR use, including new applications in coronavirus detection.
When faced with a new or different strain of disease, scientists often revisit historical events to predict how a new disease could react in the future. Aside from an outbreak’s location and symptoms, scientists consider climate and environmental factors that may also play a role in combating disease. As such, the key to managing future diseases remains constant communication between all parties concerned. With the global population always at risk of exposure, full disclosure of information educates everyone and lessens any disease impact. In this way, not only do we learn from each other, but we also become as prepared as possible for the next potential outbreak.