There are many variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Some are considered or have been declared to be of particular importance because they may increase transmissibility,[1] increase virulence or reduce the

SARS-CoV-2 variants are grouped according to their lineages and component mutations. [14] Many organizations, including governments and news outlets, refer colloquially to relevant variants in the country where they were first discovered. [60][61][62] After months of discussions, on 31 May 2021, the

A flow-through test or immunoconcentration test is a diagnostic test that allows the user to test a sample such as blood for the presence of a biomarker, usually a specific antibody. They are a point-of-care test, a test intended to be used by healthcare providers when they come into contact with p