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Publications

Journal Article Review Epublish 15 citations

PubMed: 39857007 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15020123

Impact of Point-of-Care Testing on Diagnosis, Treatment, and Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Viral Infections.

Diagnostics (Basel) 15(2)

Authors: Kirthika Lakshmanan, Benjamin M Liu

Affiliations

  • College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
  • Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
  • Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
  • Department of Pathology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
  • Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
  • Children's National Research Institute, Washington, DC 20012, USA.
  • The District of Columbia Center for AIDS Research, Washington, DC 20052, USA.

Abstract

With the advent of a variety of vaccines against viral infections, there are multiple viruses that can be prevented via vaccination. However, breakthrough infections or uncovered strains can still cause vaccine-preventable viral infections (VPVIs). Therefore, timely diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of these viruses is critical to patient care and public health. Point-of-care (POC) viral diagnostics tools have brought significant improvements in the detection and management of VPVIs. These cutting-edge technologies enable prompt and accurate results, enhancing patient care by facilitating timely treatment decisions. This review delves into the advancements in POC testing, including antigen/antibody detection and molecular assays, while focusing on their impact on the diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of VPVIs such as mpox, viral hepatitis, influenza, flaviviruses (dengue, Zika, and yellow fever virus), and COVID-19. The role of POC tests in monitoring viral infection is crucial for tracking disease progression and managing outbreaks. Furthermore, the application of POC diagnostics has shown to be vital for public health strategies. In this review, we also highlight emerging POC technologies such as CRISPR-based diagnostics and smartphone-integrated POC devices, which have proven particularly beneficial in resource-limited settings. We underscore the importance of continued research to optimize these diagnostic tools for wider global use for mpox, viral hepatitis, influenza, dengue, and COVID-19, while also addressing current challenges related to their sensitivity, specificity, availability, efficiency, and more.

MeSH

Research Design, Point-Of-Care Systems, Vaccines, Viral Load, Public Health, Influenza, Human, Viruses, Patient Care, Dengue, Diagnosis, Therapeutics, Point-Of-Care Testing, Mutation, Infections, Hepatitis, Virus Diseases

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