Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of COVID-19, a global pandemic that has resulted in millions of deaths and and significant social and economic disruption. The virus primarily affects the respiratory system but can also cause a range of severe complications to multiple organ systems,  from mild respiratory illness to severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and multi-organ failure. Sometimes it can lead to chronic effects after acute infection (Long COVID).

Early detection, via antigen or PCR tests, had been critical during the emergency phase of the pandemic, allowing for isolation of infected individuals, contact tracing, and treatment interventions. As the virus turns endemic, accurate diagnosis is now essential for better for researchers to understand the epidemiology of the virus, identifying new variants, and guiding vaccine development and deployment strategies