Your browser doesn't support javascript.
Routine blood tests as a potential diagnostic tool for COVID-19.
Ferrari, Davide; Motta, Andrea; Strollo, Marta; Banfi, Giuseppe; Locatelli, Massimo.
  • Ferrari D; SCVSA Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
  • Motta A; Laboratory Medicine Service, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy, Phone: +39 0521 906633, Fax: +39 0521 905151.
  • Strollo M; Laboratory Medicine Service, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
  • Banfi G; Laboratory Medicine Service, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
  • Locatelli M; IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.
Clin Chem Lab Med ; 58(7): 1095-1099, 2020 06 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-72358
ABSTRACT
Objectives The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to date, the epidemic has gradually spread to 209 countries worldwide with more than 1.5 million infected people and 100,000 deaths. Amplification of viral RNA by rRT-PCR serves as the gold standard for confirmation of infection, yet it needs a long turnaround time (3-4 h to generate results) and shows false-negative rates as large as 15%-20%. In addition, the need of certified laboratories, expensive equipment and trained personnel led many countries to limit the rRT-PCR tests only to individuals with pronounced respiratory syndrome symptoms. Thus, there is a need for alternative, less expensive and more accessible tests. Methods We analyzed the plasma levels of white blood cells (WBCs), platelets, C-reactive protein (CRP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of 207 patients who, after being admitted to the emergency room of the San Raffaele Hospital (Milan, Italy) with COVID-19 symptoms, were rRT-PCR tested. Of them, 105 tested positive, whereas 102 tested negative. Results Statistically significant differences were observed for WBC, CRP, AST, ALT and LDH. Empirical thresholds for AST and LDH allowed the identification of 70% of either COVID-19-positive or -negative patients on the basis of routine blood test results. Conclusions Combining appropriate cutoffs for certain hematological parameters could help in identifying false-positive/negative rRT-PCR tests. Blood test analysis might be used as an alternative to rRT-PCR for identifying COVID-19-positive patients in those countries which suffer from a large shortage of rRT-PCR reagents and/or specialized laboratory.
Subject(s)
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Biomarkers / Coronavirus Infections / Hematologic Tests Type of study: Diagnostic study / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Clin Chem Lab Med Journal subject: Chemistry, Clinical / Laboratory Techniques and procedures Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Cclm-2020-0398

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Biomarkers / Coronavirus Infections / Hematologic Tests Type of study: Diagnostic study / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Clin Chem Lab Med Journal subject: Chemistry, Clinical / Laboratory Techniques and procedures Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Cclm-2020-0398