Can Pediatric COVID-19 Testing Sensitivity Be Improved With Sequential Tests?

Pediatric Endoscopy During the COVID‐19 Pandemic

“…Reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) assays remain the molecular test of choice for diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) (1). Many factors, however, influence the quality of the test (and thus the sensitivity), including swab technique, the child's viral load, and predominant viral replication site (nasopharyngeal vs lower airway) (2). Although RT‐PCR itself is generally sensitive and specific for SARS‐CoV‐2 (1), the sensitivity and specificity of the “testing system” needs to be considered as a whole, including the ability to collect the proper respiratory tract specimen at the right time from the right anatomic site in a child.…”

Pediatric Endoscopy During the COVID‐19 Pandemic

“…There have been no identified cases of perioperative spread from our hospital-implemented practices. There are multiple limitations in PCR testing that should be appropriately recognized (16,17). Although no COVID-19 panacea test exists, we are mitigating risk by considering our incidence/prevalence, screening for symptoms, and testing before endoscopic procedures to prioritize respirators to the highest risk scenarios.…”