Table 2.

Examination procedures used to confirm SARS-CoV-2 virus infection.

Test	Positive test characteristics	References
RT-PCR	Detecting the SARS-CoV-2 virus unique sequences of RNA in sputum, throat swabs, and/or secretions of the lower respiratory tract samples.	44,45
Ab	Detecting IgM, IgA, IgG, or total antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 via serology.	44,45
ELISA	Detecting IgM and IgG antibodies based on recombinant SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and spike protein via serology.	46
IHC	A damage of pneumocytes with hyaline membrane formation, interstitial lymphocyte infiltration, and multinucleated syncytial cells in the lungs.	18,19
CXR	Shows multiple small patchy shadows and interstitial changes in the lung periphery that gradually spread to the bronchi and then the whole lung with infrequent interlobar pleural thickening and pleural effusion.	47
CT Scan	Presentation of bilateral pulmonary parenchymal ground-glass opacity with pulmonary consolidation in a bilateral diffuse distribution, sometimes with a rounded morphology in a peripheral lung distribution.	21,48,49
FDG-PET Scan	Detect lung lesions characterized by increased FDG uptake in lymph node.	50,51

RT-PCR: reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction; Ab: antibody; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; IHC: immunohistochemistry; CXR: chest X-ray; CT: computed tomography; FDG-PET: fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography.