Looking at the symptoms of SARS is not really enough to diagnose it. The initial symptoms are similar to that of the flu. So, what other factors would have to be used to distinguish it from the flu and other respiratory illnesses? What criteria is used to diagnose SARS? What kinds of tests are needed? Explain. Solution Answer: SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) is a serious respiratory disease that is contagious. The SARS vrus is basically coronavirus and belongs to the same family of common cold virus. The symptoms of SARS are similar to those of flu and the patient go on to develop pneumonia in most cases. SARS is very rare and the only way to diagnose SARS is whether or not the patient got exposed to the SARS virus. Criteria to diagnose SARS quickly: 1. Direct isolation and identification of the SARS virus 2. PCR of the virus with specific primers (Detection of SARS-CoV in samples such as blood) 3. Antibody tests for the virus (ELISA and Immunofluorescence assay for the SARS virus) Other laboratory tests include: 1. Blood clotting test 2. Blood chemistry test 3. Chest X-ray 4. Arterial blood tests.