Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Test Information for Hospitals and Labs
ARUP offers standalone nucleic acid amplification (NAA) testing for diagnosis of current COVID-19 infection, and two IgG antibody tests to evaluate for exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
Please note: ARUP will report all COVID-19 test results to all states. If ARUP receives a patient address with a molecular test, the health department in the state in which the patient resides will be notified. Otherwise, ARUP will report based on the location of the ordering client.
Diagnostic Test
Use to detect SARS-CoV-2.
Hologic and Roche, the manufacturers of the platforms used by ARUP to perform NAA testing, are continuously monitoring available sequences of SARS-CoV-2 strains to ensure that these assays are detecting emerging variants and to understand any implications of these mutations. Currently, there have been no detected mutations or viral variants that will not be detected by the assay offered by ARUP Laboratories
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) by NAA Test
Test: SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) by NAA (3002638)
ARUP’s standalone NAA test for SARS-CoV-2 is designed to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in respiratory specimens. It is recommended for patients who meet the CDC’s clinical and epidemiologic criteria for COVID-19 testing. The testing is specific to SARS-CoV-2 and does not detect any additional coronaviruses.
Methodology
ARUP’s COVID-19 NAA standalone assays are Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) assays when performed on nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, or nasal swab specimens. These assays are performed on two platforms (Hologic and Roche). The Hologic test can be performed using either reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) and is run on the Panther system. The Roche-manufactured RT-PCR is run on the Cobas 6800 system. Utilization of multiple platforms helps ensure continuity of high-volume testing.
Results Reporting
Test results are reported to our clients as “detected,” “not detected,” or “invalid.” Please note that a result of “detected” is no longer being considered a critical result, so the results will no longer be called directly to the client. Test results are made immediately available in ARUP Connect.
Sensitivity and Specificity
The RT-PCR and TMA assays have equivalent sensitivity and specificity performance characteristics, regardless of the testing platform (Hologic or Roche) that the assay is performed on.
Pricing
The price of our COVID-19 by NAA test (3002638) is $95 to our hospital and laboratory clients. ARUP does not charge patients directly for laboratory services.
Fact Sheets for the EUA SARS-CoV-2 by NAA Test
For Providers
For Patients
Saliva Specimens Acceptable for the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) by NAA Test
Please note that patients should not eat or drink for 30 minutes prior to providing a saliva sample, and the saliva should not surpass the fill line of the collection tube. See the Laboratory Test Directory for complete collection and transport requirements.
Use for the qualitative detection of IgG antibodies to evaluate exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
Antibody Tests
Both COVID-19 serology assays offered by ARUP have received FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Please visit the FDA website, EUA Authorized Serology Test Performance, for more information. Additionally, ARUP verified that both assays perform according to the manufacturer’s claims.
There are currently no recommendations for using antibody tests, including these tests, to assess response to vaccination. Additionally, these assays do not indicate immunity to COVID-19 or protection from reinfection with COVID-19.
Antibody Test Result Interpretation
Detection of IgG antibodies indicates exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Importantly, it has not yet been established that the presence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies implies immunity. Furthermore, individuals may still be infectious for some time after seroconversion occurs and antibodies become detectable. For this reason, a positive antibody result should not alter quarantine, isolation, social distancing, or PPE practices.
IgG results should not be used for diagnosis. Molecular tests are the only tests currently recommended for the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection.
SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies are likely to be present in a majority of individuals approximately two weeks after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. If a specimen is collected too early, antibody tests can yield false-negative results. False-positive results can occur and may be due to past or present infection with non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus strains, such as coronavirus HKU1, NL63, OC43, or 229E. False-positive results are also possible in low-prevalence settings, even when an antibody test has >98.0% specificity.
Before you order: To provide public health departments with vital information on the spread of COVID-19, please submit the Patient Demographics Form for Public Health Reporting ONLY if complete demographic information is not transmitted to ARUP.
COVID-19 IgG, Qualitative by CIA (Target: Nucleocapsid Protein)
Test: COVID-19 IgG, Qualitative by CIA (3002776)
Methodology
This chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA) performed on the Abbott ARCHITECT platform detects IgG antibodies specific to the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2.
Results Reporting
Results are reported as “negative” or “positive.”
Sensitivity and Specificity
Performance of COVID-19 IgG, Qualitative by CIA
Antibody | Performance Measure | Estimate of Performance | 95% CI |
---|---|---|---|
IgG | Sensitivity | 100% (88/88) | 95.8% to 100% |
IgG | Specificity | 99.6% (1,066/1,070) | 99.0% to 99.9% |
IgG | PPV at prevalence = 5% | 93.4% | 84.0% to 97.3% |
IgG | NPV at prevalence = 5% | 100% | 99.8% to 100% |
CI, confidence interval; NPV, negative predictive value; PPV, positive predictive value Data source: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/emergency-situations-medical-devices/eua-authorized-serology-test-performance |
Pricing
The price of the COVID-19 IgG, Qualitative by CIA test (3002776) is $40 to our hospital and laboratory clients. ARUP does not charge patients directly for laboratory services.
Fact Sheets
For Providers
For Patients
COVID-19 IgG, Semi-Quantitative by CIA (Target: Spike Protein)
Test: COVID-19 IgG, Semi-Quantitative by CIA (3003648)
Methodology
COVID-19 IgG, Semi-Quantitative by CIA is a chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA) performed on the ADVIA Centaur XPT platform. The assay detects IgG antibodies specific to the spike protein (S1) of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). This test is authorized for the detection of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in human serum and plasma.
Results Reporting
Results are reported as “negative” or “positive,” along with an index value.
Index Value | Result | Interpretation |
---|---|---|
<1.00 | Negative | Human antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were not detected in the sample above the limit of detection |
≥1.00 | Positive | Human antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were detected, suggesting possible exposure to COVID-19 |
A negative result does not rule out infection because patients may not have detectable antibodies early in the course of infection or may not develop detectable antibodies. Diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 is recommended if current infection is suspected.
Sensitivity and Specificity
Performance of COVID-19 IgG, Semi-Quantitative by CIA
Antibody | Performance Measure | Estimate of Performance | 95% CI |
---|---|---|---|
IgG | Sensitivity (PPA) | 100% (42/42) | 91.6% to 100% |
IgG | Specificity (NPA) | 99.9% (1,829/1,831) | 99.6% to 99.9% |
IgG | PPV at prevalence = 5% | 98.0% | 92.4% to 99.4% |
IgG | NPV at prevalence = 5% | 100% | 99.6% to 100% |
CI, confidence interval; NPA, negative percent agreement; NPV, negative predictive value; PPA, positive percent agreement; PPV, positive predictive value |
Fact Sheets
For Patients
Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia
Patients with vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) have been described as having platelet-activating antibodies detectable with PF4-heparin ELISA assays, and possibly with functional assays such as the serotonin release assay. Only a limited number of patients have been described to date, and testing algorithms remain in development. For more information, please refer to the Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Testing section in the ARUP Consult COVID-19 topic.
Cytokine Support Testing
This testing is used primarily for research and to support attempts to understand the pathogenesis of immune, infectious, allergic, or inflammatory disorders. Currently, there are not well-defined guidelines on how the results should be interpreted and/or used to guide treatment decisions in patients with COVID-19.
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