Role of serology tests in COVID-19 non-hospitalized patients: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) has imposed catastrophic impressions on the world. After all the focused researches conducted in the COVID-19 area, many features remain obscure. We have surveyed 1,363 outpatients with suspected COVID-19 in Tehran, Iran. The analysis emphasized on characteristics of patients with positive PCR or serology of SARS-CoV-2. Methods The nasopharyngeal swabs were tested for SARS-CoV2 PCR. Serum specimens were tested for SARS-CoV2 IgG and IgM. Clinical presentations of the patients, history of chronic diseases or drug use, contact with a possible COVID-19 patient and previous infection with SARS-COV2 were investigated. Results Of the total 1,363 investigated patients, 22% had positive SARS-CoV-2 PCRs, 82% had positive IgG, 38% had positive IgM, and 31% had both positive IgM and IgG values. Positive serologic tests were significantly associated with a positive PCR test obtained previously in the course of the current disease (P value<0.001). IgG and IgM antibody values were significantly associated with underlying disease, cough, fever, chills, fatigue, and myalgia (all P values <0.001). Dyspnea was significantly associated with IgG levels (P value = 0.01), yet it was not associated with IgM serology (P value = 0.2). Positive serology tests were not associated with symptoms of coryza. GI symptoms were not associated with positive IgG test (P value = 0.1), yet it did show an association with positive IgM test (P value = 0.02). Cough, fever, chills, myalgia fatigue, dyspnea, and GI symptoms were all significantly associated with positive PCR (all P values <0.001), and symptoms of coryza did not show a significant relationship (P value = 0.8). Conclusion Assessing antibody titers in outpatients is invaluable due to the epidemiological importance of investigations in mild or even asymptomatic cases. Since the number of such studies in non-hospitalized patients is not high, the current study can be used as a comparison model.

SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG serology and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients

“…In one of the cross-sectional studies done in Iran, the study suggested that the patients who were IgG and IgM positive had more severe symptoms compared to patients who had negative serology. (14) If we see the relationship between the COVID-19 serology and complications, not many studies had been done in the past. This study had shown that patients who had higher COVID-19 IgG levels at three weeks had more severe ARDS and oxygen requirements compared to other patients.…”

A Novel Dry-Stabilized Whole Blood Microsampling and Protein Extraction Method for Testing of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Titers

“…Contrary to PCR tests which are used to identify ongoing infection with SARS-CoV-2, serology tests are employed to provide information about vaccination efficiency, previous exposure, and severity of disease [ 6 ]. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are utilizing these antibody tests as a means of surveillance to investigate how the virus is spreading throughout populations in the United States, and to learn more about the epidemiology of COVID-19 [ 7 ].…”

Evaluation of the COVID-19 Antibody Screening Results of Factory Employees

“…Asemptomatik veya hafif belirtilerle seyreden enfeksiyon durumunda viral yaygınlığın anlaşılmasında yararlıdır. Popülasyonda SARS-CoV-2 virüsüne karşı antikorların değerlendirilmesi, mevcut hastalarda ve iyileşmiş olgularda hastalık yayılımının anlaşılmasına yardımcı olur (16) . (17) .…”