ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the diagnostic value of rapid COVID-19 antigen test (Panbio, Abbott) in comparison with Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) in suspected community cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection at a tertiary care center in Pakistan Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Pathology Department, Combined Military Hospital, Lahore Pakistan, from Jun 2020 to Jun 2021. Methodology: The diagnostic value of the Panbio®COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test (Panbio, Abbott), was determined in comparison with RT-PCR in suspected community cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection at a tertiary care center on samples taken simultaneously. 200 individuals reporting to the hospital with signs and symptoms of potential COVID infection or history of significant contact exposure (>1 hour without masking and social distancing) to a RT-PCR positive COVID patient and concurrently requiring a rapid COVID antigen test due to an underlying health condition were included in the study by consecutive sampling. Results: Out of 200 individuals, 53(26.5 %) were COVID positive by RT–PCR whereas 147(73.5%) were clearly negative with no cases of indeterminate viremia on RT PCR. 32(60.3%) out of 53 RT-PCR positive COVID cases were also found to be positive by COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test, whereas 21(39.6%) were negative. Out of 147 RT-PCR negative COVID cases, 146(99.3%) were negative by COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test as well whereas 1(0.68%) was positive. Conclusion: COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test is suitable adjunct to RT-PCR testing in suspected cases in emergent settings in early days of admission. © 2022, Army Medical College. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the persistence of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and the association of timelines of COVID-19 seropositivity with antibody ratio levels. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Lahore, from Apr to Sep 2020. Methodology: The serum of 250 patients recovered from COVID-19 was collected to detect anti-SARS-COV-2 IgG antibodies. Anti-SARS Cov-2 IgG was measured by Semi-Quantitative Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISAs), and the association of timelines of COVID-19 seropositivity with antibody ratio levels was determined. Results: Out of 250 study participants, males were 220 (88%) while females were 30 (12%), mean age being 35.25 years ± 9.096 years. In the timeline of 31-60 days after the first positive COVID-19 PCR, 27 out of 44 (61%) were seropositive. In the 61-90 days’ timeline, 79 out of 155 (51%) were seropositive, in the timeline of 91-120 days after the first positive PCR, 52 out of 76 (68%) were seropositive, and in the timeline of 121-150 days, 12 out of 15 (80%) of the study participants were seropositive for COVID-19. Conclusion: Serological IgG immune response against SARS-CoV-2 persists up to five months after active COVID-19 infection in most individuals in the Pakistani population. © 2022, Army Medical College. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of earliest symptoms of COVID-19 infection among patients with confirmed SARS-COVID-19 infection. Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Multan, from Jun to Dec 2021. Methodology: Data from 299 patients admitted in tertiary care settings was collected on a questionnaire. Patients regardless of gender and age who had confirmed COVID-19 infection through Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) were included in the study. A nonprobability consecutive sampling technique was used to select samples. Data was entered and analyzed through SPSS version 22. Frequencies and percentages of various presenting symptoms were calculated. Sample size calculated at 95% level of confidence, 1% required precision, and 27% anticipated population proportion were 299. The over-all difference in frequencies of symptoms in various groups was compared by using chi-square test. p-value <0.05 was taken as significant. Results: A total of 299 participants were included in this analysis. The median age for participants (interquartile range [IQR]) was 46 (36-54) years. Among 299 adults the reported symptoms were cough 238 (79.6%), fever 176 (58.7%) and, dyspnea 113 (37.8%). Only 78 (26.1%) of participants with confirmed infection reported having all three symptoms of cough, fever, and dyspnea. Other reported symptoms in patients were diarrhea 54 (18.1%), fatigue 128 (42.8%), myalgia 113 (37.8%), and anosmia 98 (32.8%). There was no significant difference in the frequency of symptoms across both genders. Conclusion: The most frequent symptoms of COVID-19 are cough, fever, and dyspnea. © 2021, Army Medical College. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the disappearance of neutralizing antibodies from patients, their myths, and facts. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Multan Pakistan, from Jul 2021 to Aug 2021. Methodology: A total of 100 blood samples were collected from 100 COVID-19 patients. These 100 patients were followed up for a period of 3 months. Antibodies were determined with the modified neutralization assay method and enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The antibody level by NA and ELISA peaked on days 30-35 then decreased slightly. In multivariate analysis, patients aged 25-35, 36-56, and 57-84 years had a higher neutralizing antibody level than those aged 10-21 years. The patient with the worst clinical manifestation had a higher neutralizing antibody titer. In serum samples, IgG was undetectable at 18.3% and 11% and the geographical mean reciprocal titers dropped from 244 at 3-month period and neutralizing antibodies, the geographical mean reciprocal titers dropped from 874 at 3 months. Conclusion: All COVID-19 patients were seropositive and significantly neutralizing antibody response. Neutralizing antibody levels depend on the time after the onset of symptoms, age, and severity of the disease. © 2021, Army Medical College. All rights reserved.