The independent platform for news, articles and advice for professionals in laboratory medicine

Common laboratory tests for hospitalised COVID-19 patients

The VITROS COVID-19 Total and IgG Antibody Tests and VITROS SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test from Ortho Clinical Diagnostics help to identify an active or previous infection, together with PCR and clinical history.

Patients with severe COVID-19 infection can have a variety of symptoms. The virus does not only infect the lungs but can also impact the cardiovascular and nervous system, the kidney, the liver, and several others.

In order to inform clinicians about the damage the virus has caused, laboratory tests need to  be readily available on reliable instruments, to enable them to decide on the  appropriate treatment regime. Needless to say, high-quality, accurate results one can trust are critically important, as is getting the right result first time to avoid a delay in helping severely ill patients.

The list below highlights the most common biomarkers assessed in hospitalised COVID-19 patients that are associated with disease severity and progression:

  • Procalcitonin (PCT): can be increased in COVID-19 patients who have a bacterial super infection and/or where the tissue is heavily damaged by the virus. Elevated CRP,  IL-6 (responsible for cytokine storm) and ferritin, which are non-specific markers for inflammation, are commonly found in severely ill COVID-19 patients, accompanied by   an increase in white blood cells.
  • Cardiac troponin: a marker for myocardial injury is often elevated in COVID-19 patients with an unfavourable prognosis. The same has been observed for NT-pro BNP, a marker for acute coronary syndrome and heart failure.
  •  D-dimer and fibrinogen: indicative of COVID-19-associated coagulopathies, such as the formation of blood clots that can cause pulmonary embolisms.
  • Cystatin C, creatinine and urea: elevated in response to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). Nephrocheck, which tests for        the two biomarkers TIMP-2 and IGFBP-7, could be useful for assessing the risk of AKI  development.
  • An increase in ALT, AST and total bilirubin and a decrease in serum albumin has   been reported in COVID-19 patients presenting with liver injury or/and organ damage.    LDH is another biomarker that can be used to aid in the identification of pulmonary injury and/or widespread organ damage.

Most of these assays are already part of your laboratory’s menu, whereas other tests could be a useful addition to help with COVID-19 patient management. Talk to your clinician now about    the possibility of running a COVID-19 antibody test, PCT or Nephrocheck.

www.orthoclinicaldiagnostics.com

Upcoming Events

Pathology Horizons 2024

MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
18-20 April, 2024

Diagnostics North East Conference 2024

The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
19 April, 2024

ECCMID 2024 - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Fira Gran Via, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
27-30 April 2024

British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference

UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London
2 May 2024

EQA Reports: Interpreting Key Information & Troubleshooting Tips

ONLINE - Zoom
Thursday 16th May 2024

Participants’ Meeting: UK NEQAS Immunology, Immunochemistry & Allergy

Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Howard Street, Sheffield
24th May 2024

Access the latest issue of Pathology In Practice on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Pathology In Practice app from your device's App store

Upcoming Events

Pathology Horizons 2024

MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
18-20 April, 2024

Diagnostics North East Conference 2024

The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
19 April, 2024

ECCMID 2024 - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Fira Gran Via, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
27-30 April 2024

British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference

UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London
2 May 2024

EQA Reports: Interpreting Key Information & Troubleshooting Tips

ONLINE - Zoom
Thursday 16th May 2024

Participants’ Meeting: UK NEQAS Immunology, Immunochemistry & Allergy

Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Howard Street, Sheffield
24th May 2024

Access the latest issue of Pathology In Practice on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Pathology In Practice app from your device's App store

Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR
Tel: 01892 779999
www.step-communications.com
© 2024 Step Communications Ltd. Registered in England. Registration Number 3893025