EDITORIALE   Free access

La Rivista Italiana della Medicina di Laboratorio 2020 Marzo;16(1):1-3

DOI: 10.23736/S1825-859X.20.00053-5

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

COVID-19 and us

Danilo VILLALTA ¹, Piero CAPPELLETTI ² ✉

¹ Immunologia e Allergologia, Presidio Ospedaliero S. Maria degli Angeli, ASFO, Pordenone, Italia; ² SIPMeL, Castelfranco Veneto, Treviso, Italia

In the dramatic framework of COVID-19 pandemic, laboratory medicine has a critical role in research and clinical setting. The etiological diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR methods is the basis for therapeutic and preventive interventions. The huge request of these results is determining heavy reorganizations and work in the laboratories. New tests for COVID-19 antibodies are growing in number but are not validated. They could be used for confirming diagnosis and defining immunization for therapeutic, epidemiologic and preventive purposes. Nevertheless, this critical diagnostics has to be determined in certificated Laboratories, by expert professionals, correctly interpreted, and connected to public healthcare institutions. The role of Laboratory Medicine is essential in the management of COVID-19 pandemic, like in the “normal” life of patients and citizens, and should not be forgotten, when the wave has passed.

KEY WORDS: Coronavirus; COVID-19; Clinical laboratory techniques