The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which began in December 2019, is still ongoing in Korea, with >9,000 confirmed cases as of March 25, 2020. COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and real-time reverse transcription-PCR is currently the most reliable diagnostic method for COVID-19 around the world. Korean Society for Laboratory Medicine and the Korea Centers for Disease Prevention and Control propose guidelines for diagnosing COVID-19 in clinical laboratories in Korea. These guidelines are based on other related domestic and international guidelines, as well as expert opinions and include the selection of test subjects, selection of specimens, diagnostic methods, interpretation of test results, and biosafety.

Heungsup Sung, M.D., Kyoung Ho Roh, M.D., Ki Ho Hong, M.D., Moon-Woo Seong, M.D., Namhee Ryoo , M.D., Hyun Soo Kim, M.D., Jaehyeon Lee, M.D., So Yeon Kim, M.D., Sookwon Yoo, M.D., Mi-Na Kim, M.D., Myung Guk Han, D.V.M., Sang Won Lee, Ph.D., Hyukmin Lee, M.D., and Cheon Kwon Yoo, Ph.D.; on behalf of COVID-19 Diagnosis Test Management Committee established by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ann Lab Med 2020;40:439-47. https://doi.org/10.3343/alm.2020.40.6.439

Park DC, et al. Ann Lab Med. 2019 Nov;39(6):537-544. https://doi.org/10.3343/alm.2019.39.6.537

To validate the specimen-pooling strategy for real-time reverse transcription PCR detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, we generated different pools including positive specimens, reflecting the distribution of cycle threshold values at initial diagnosis. Cumulative sensitivities of tested pool sizes suggest pooling of <6 specimens for surveillance by this method.

Ki Ho Hong , M.D., Gab Jung Kim , Ph.D., Kyoung Ho Roh , M.D., Heungsup Sung , M.D., Jaehyeon Lee , M.D., So Yeon Kim , M.D., Taek Soo Kim , M.D., Jae-Sun Park , Ph.D., Hee Jae Huh , M.D., Younhee Park , M.D., Jae-Seok Kim , M.D., Hyun Soo Kim , M.D., Moon-Woo Seong , M.D., Nam Hee Ryoo , M.D., Sang Hoon Song , M.D., Hyukmin Lee , M.D., Gye Cheol Kwon , M.D., and Cheon Kwon Yoo , Ph.D.. Ann Lab Med 2022;42:391-7. https://doi.org/10.3343/alm.2022.42.4.391

Jaehyeon Lee, M.D., So Yeon Kim, M.D., Hee Jae Huh, M.D., Namsu Kim, M.D., Heungsup Sung, M.D., Hyukmin Lee, M.D., Kyoung Ho Roh, M.D., Taek Soo Kim, M.D., and Ki Ho Hong, M.D.. Ann Lab Med 2021;41:588-92. https://doi.org/10.3343/alm.2021.41.6.588