Evaluation of Rapid Antibody Test and Chest Computed Tomography Results of COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Study

Link to article at PubMed

J Med Virol. 2021 Jul 14. doi: 10.1002/jmv.27209. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG rapid antibody test results in symptomatic patients with COVID-19 and their chest computed tomography (CT) data.

METHODS: A total of 320 patients admitted to our hospital for different durations due to COVID-19 were included in the study. Serum samples were obtained within 0 to 7 days from COVID-19 patients confirmed by RT-PCR and chest CT scan. According to the SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR results, the patients included in the study were divided into two groups: PCR positive group (n=46), and PCR negative group (n=274).

RESULTS: Of the 320 COVID-19 serum samples, IgM, IgG, and IgM/IgG were detected in 9.4%, 3.1%, and 17.8% within one week respectively. IgG/IgM antibodies were not detected in 69.7% of the patients. In the study, it was determined that 249 (77.8%) of 320 patients had positive chest CT scans. Four (5.6%) of 100 patients with negative chest CT scan had IgM positive and 2 (2.8%) had both IgM/IgG positive. IgM was detected in 23 (9.2%), IgG in 1 (0.4%) and IgM/IgG in 35 (14%) of chest CT scan positive patients. The rate of CT findings in patients with antibody positivity (n=97) was found to be significantly higher than those with antibody negativity.

CONCLUSION: The results of the present study show the accurate and equivalent performance of serological antibody assays and chest CT in detecting SARS-CoV-2 0 to 7 days from the onset of COVID19 symptoms. When the RT-PCR is not available, we believe that the combination of immunochromatographic test and chest CT scan can increase diagnostic sensitivity for COVID-19. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:34260078 | DOI:10.1002/jmv.27209

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *