Abstract
This directed case study follows the fictional story of an emergency room physician as he treats multiple patients being admitted to the hospital with symptoms of COVID-19. The case takes place in Boston and is based on the real-life Massachusetts outbreak of the disease after an international Biogen executive conference that resulted in the infection of over 99 patients both directly and through household contact. Students analyze the genomic structure of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the causative agent of COVID-19, and explore mechanisms for diagnosing the disease including RT-PCR and antibody detection. As a basis for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of potential tests, students learn the underlying techniques of qRT-PCR and the antibody-based ELISA assay. This multi-day case gives students an opportunity to think critically about the appropriateness of different diagnostic tools and how that may change over the course of a pandemic. The case is aimed at advanced undergraduates and first-year graduate students with a strong background in molecular biology who are capable of consulting primary literature, including journal articles and diagnostic protocols. This teaching case study include an overview, abstract, teaching notes, an answer key, and supplementary media and materials.