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SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis: a single-centre experience
Ion Maruntelu1,2, Andreea Mirela Caragea1,2, Maria Tizu1,2
1Department of Immunology and Immunology of Transplant, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
Insights
This study details COVID-19 diagnosis experiences at Fundeni Clinical Institute, finding one-third of individuals developed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and all vaccinated individuals had spike protein antibodies.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic, declared by WHO, has caused significant mortality and morbidity globally and in Romania.
- Accurate diagnosis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is crucial for managing the pandemic.
- Fundeni Clinical Institute has accumulated experience in diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infections among patients and healthcare personnel.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the diagnostic experience of SARS-CoV-2 infection at Fundeni Clinical Institute.
- To analyze the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and antibody development in patients and healthcare workers.
- To evaluate diagnostic methods including RT-PCR and serological testing.
Main Methods:
- RNA extraction and qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 using three combined real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays on 29,380 swab samples.
- Chemiluminescence method to analyze IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein in 1,068 patients and staff.
- Chemiluminescence method to screen for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies in 50 individuals post-vaccination.
Main Results:
- The majority of confirmed COVID-19 cases (71.3%) were adults aged 30-69 years.
- 83% of diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 patients were admitted to gastroenterology, hematology, and surgery wards.
- One-third of the study population developed antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid; IgG seroprevalence did not vary by gender or age.
- All 50 individuals tested two weeks after their second vaccine dose showed antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
Conclusions:
- Sustained testing efforts are essential for accurate virological diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2.
- The study highlights the importance of both direct (RT-PCR) and indirect (serological) diagnostic approaches.
- Vaccination effectively induces antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
Abstract:
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 11th of March 2020. In Romania, there have been 983,217 confirmed cases and 24,386 deaths. We aim to show our experience at the Fundeni Clinical Institute in the diagnosis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in both patients and health care personnel. Swab samples were collected for extraction of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA from 29380 patients and health care personnel. We have combined three real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays for the qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2. Also, the presence of IgG against SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein was analyzed in 1068 patients and clinical staff using the chemiluminescence method. Other 50 people were screened post-vaccination for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against the spike (S) protein, using the chemiluminescence method as well. The majority of confirmed cases were in adults, 71.3% of cases being registered in people aged 30-69 years. Most patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection (83%) were admitted to the gastroenterology, hematology, and surgery wards. Our study showed that one-third of people developed antibodies against the nucleocapsid of SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroprevalence does not vary by gender or age. Also, we noticed the presence of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in all 50 people post-vaccination that were tested two weeks after the second dose. Due to the increasing number of infected patients with SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus pandemic involves a sustained testing effort for an accurate virological diagnosis in both direct and indirect diagnosis.
