Comparative analysis of the main haematological indexes and RNA detection for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Authors: Xiang, Jialin; Chen, Zuyi; Zhou, Jie; Tian, Di; Ran, Xiusheng; Zhang, Zhimin; Shi, Shi; Xiao, Daimin; Zhou, Yuanzhong
Abstract
Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has become a public health emergency of international concern. SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection is the diagnostic criterion for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Nevertheless, RNA detection has many limitations, such as being time-consuming and cost-prohibitive, and it must be performed in specialized laboratories. Virus antibody detection is a routine method for screening for multiple viruses, but data about SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection are limited. Method Throat swabs and blood were collected from 67 suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection patients at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University and Zunyi Fourth People's Hospital isolated observation departments. Throat swab samples were subjected to SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection by real-time PCR. Blood was used subjected to SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM detection by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and gold immunochromatography assay (GICA). Blood underwent C-reactive protein detection by immunoturbidimetry, and white blood cells, neutrophil percentages and lymphocyte percentages were counted and calculated, respectively. Clinical symptoms, age and lifestyle habits (smoking and drinking) in all patients were recorded. Data were analysed using SPSS version 19. The results were confirmed by T and chi(2)tests; correlations with detection results were analysed by kappa coefficients. Odds ratio (OR) and corrected OR values were analysed by logistic regression.P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Of the 67 patients included in this study, 26 were SARS-CoV-2 RNA-positive. GICA IgM sensitivity was 50.9% (13/26), and specificity was 90.2% (37/41). ELISA IgM sensitivity was 76.9% (20/26), and specificity was 90.2% (37/41). ELISA IgG sensitivity was 76.9% (20/26), and specificity was 95.1% (39/41). The kappa coefficients between RNA detection and ELISA IgG, ELISA IgM, and GICA IgM results were 0.741 (P < 0.01), 0.681 (P < 0.01) and 0.430 (P < 0.01), respectively. Conclusion Among the candidate blood indicators, serum IgG and IgM detected by ELISA had the best consistency and validity when compared with standard RNA detection; these indicators can be used as potential preliminary screening tools to identify those who should undergo nucleic acid detection in laboratories without RNA detection abilities or as a supplement to RNA detection.
Inhalation challenge test using pigeon eggs for chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY
Authors: Okuda, Ryo; Takemura, Tamiko; Mikami, Yu; Hagiwara, Eri; Iwasawa, Tae; Baba, Tomohisa; Kitamura, Hideya; Komatsu, Shigeru; Okudela, Koji; Ohashi, Kenichi; Ogura, Takashi
Abstract
Background Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP) remains a diagnostic challenge. The process of collecting and extracting serum and droppings from causative animals for the inhalation challenge test is complicated and the risk of inducing disease progression exists. Objective To investigate the utility and safety of an inhalation challenge test using pigeon eggs. Methods Pigeon eggs were pasteurized and mixed with a saline solution to produce an inhalation fluid. An inhalation challenge test was conducted on 19 patients with bird-related CHP and 17 patients with interstitial lung disease other than bird-related CHP. To identify antigens in pigeon eggs, the antigen-antibody responses of the pigeon eggs and serum from patients were evaluated using Western blotting. Results The mean changes in C-reactive protein, alveolar-arterial oxygen difference, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and lactate dehydrogenase significantly increased by 0.32 mg/dL (P = .014), 7.8 Torr (P = .002), 1.4 mm/h (P = .012), and 5.4 U/mL (P = .0019), respectively, in bird-related CHP group compared to the control 24 hours after the inhalation challenge test. Furthermore, within 24 hours of the inhalation test, the mean forced vital capacity decreased by 2.3% in the bird-related CHP group compared with a decline of 0.05% in the control group (P = .035). Serum collected from seven bird-related CHP patients who underwent the inhalation challenge test and reacted to antigens with molecular weights of 37-75 KDa, and these molecular weights were consistent with egg albumin and globulin. Conclusion Since a mild response was observed after the inhalation challenge test using pigeon eggs, this test was an obvious candidate for diagnosing bird-related CHP.