Molecular Testing of SARS-CoV-2 Infection from Blood Samples in Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) and Elevated D-Dimer Levels.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 virus spread worldwide and infected more that 10 million people, causing more than 500,000 deaths worldwide. The infection has systemic effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems; thus, patients can present a variety of symptoms from asymptomatic to rapid deaths. In this paper, we present the first case of post-mortem SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing in Western part of Romania in a deceased with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and elevated D-dimer levels. METHODS: During the autopsy which took place at the Institute of Forensic Medicine from Timisoara, Romania, blood sample was collected in a vacutainer with EDTA and sent to the Laboratory of Forensic Genetics from Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. Viral RNA extraction was performed automated on the Maxwell 48 RSC Extraction System (Promega, USA) using the Maxwell RSC Viral Total Nucleic Acid Purification kit (Promega, USA). After RNA extraction, the samples were amplified on a 7500 real-time PCR (Applied Biosystems, USA) using the genesig® Real-Time PCR Assay (Primer Design, UK). RESULTS: The molecular testing showed a cycle threshold value of 23.4 (1.2 x 106 copies/mL), indicating increased viral loads, which correlated with the laboratory analysis results, especially with D-dimer levels. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of coagulopathy of SARS-CoV-2, patients in hospitals should be monitored closely for thrombosis development. Thus D-dimer can be used as prognostic marker in monitoring the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.