Overview:

SARS-CoV-2 is a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. It is a single stranded RNA virus that causes COVID-19 disease. Like other coronaviruses SARS-CoV-2 can cause both upper and lower respiratory tract infection in humans who contract the virus.

Scion Lab Services offers RNA detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus to aid in the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection. The molecular SARS-CoV-2 is performed using the ThermoFisher TaqPath COVID-19 assay on the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio 12K Flex Real-Time PCR System.

This virus is likely to be at the highest concentrations in the nasopharynx during the first 3 to 5 days of the illness. With disease progression, there tends to be a decrease in the viral load in the upper respiratory tract, therefore, lower respiratory tract specimens might be more likely to have detectable SARS-CoV-2. The precise timing of when viral levels are at peak during an active infection are not known, therefore, multiple samples from the same individual may be required to detect the virus.

Specimen Requirement:

Nasopharyngeal or nasal swab

Results:

This testing takes approximately 24-48 hours for results.

Interpretation:

Negative - indicates that SARS-CoV-2 is not present in the patient's specimen.

A false negative may occur if testing occurred too soon following infection or the specimen collected was of poor quality. Results should be correlated with the patient’s clinical history. Repeat testing may be warranted.

Positive - indicates that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA is present and suggests the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Inconclusive result - indicates that the presence or absence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA could not be determined. When possible the submission of a new specimen is recommended.

Cash Pay Price: $250.00 per test

Guidance on Interpreting COVID-19 Test Results

Overview:

Antibody testing (serologic testing) is used to detect antibodies in blood serum. Antibodies are produced by the immune system in response to an infection. The presence of antibodies in blood serum indicates that an individual has had an infection.

Scion Lab Services, LLC performs serology testing to detect IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. For most people, IgG antibodies to SARS-Cov-2 are detectable about 10 days after they have had symptoms of COVID-19. Therefore, this testing is only advisable for individuals no sooner than 10 days after initial exposure. The presence of IgG antibodies indicates that the patient has been exposed to COVID-19. These antibodies can remain detectable for weeks or months after an initial exposure. 

Specimen Requirement:

Scion Lab Services accepts serum collected in red top or serum separating tubes.

Results:

Test results are usually available within 24-48 hours from the laboratory’s receipt of the sample.

Interpretation:

Negative - IgG antibodies to SARS-Cov-2 were NOT detected.

A false negative may occur if blood sample was collected too soon following infection. Follow-up testing with a molecular test is recommended in symptomatic patients. Serology testing should not be used to exclude active/recent COVID-19 disease.

Positive - IgG antibodies to SARS-Cov-2 were detected.

A positive result may be due to prior infection with other human coronaviruses, a bacterial infection or co-infection with other viruses.

Guidance on Interpreting COVID-19 Test Results