Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 3, 2026
qPCR Is a Sensitive and Rapid Method for Detection of Cytomegaloviral DNA in Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-embedded Biopsy Tissue
Published on: July 9, 2014
Hematological and biochemical alterations in patients with suspected COVID-19 infection with negative and positive
Lotfi S Bin Dahman1,2, Adnan A Bakarman3, Naela A Al-Nakhbi4
1Clinical Biochemistry Unit, Laboratory Medicine Department, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hadhramout University, Mukalla, Yemen.
Background:
Hematological and biochemical abnormalities have been reported in patients with confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study compared selected hematological and biochemical parameters in patients with confirmed COVID-19 (RT-PCR positive) and suspected COVID-19 (RT-PCR negative).
Patients And Methods:
A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 106 patients admitted to the COVID-19 isolation centers at Ibn-Sina Hospital, Mukalla, Yemen, from 1 December 2021 to 30 October 2022. The study included 63 men and 43 women, with a mean age of 58.3 ± 17.5 years. Demographic, clinical, hematological, and biochemical data were extracted from medical records. The following were analyzed: complete blood count (CBC), random blood glucose (RBG), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and ferritin.
Results:
Of the 106 patients, 58 (54.72%) had confirmed (RT-PCR positive) COVID-19, and 48 (45.3%) had suspected (RT-PCR negative) COVID-19. Compared with the RT-PCR-negative group, the RT-PCR-positive patients had significantly higher hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell (RBC), and white blood cell (WBC) counts and were more likely to exhibit neutrophilia, lymphopenia, and eosinopenia. Serum LDH, GGT, CRP, and ferritin levels were also significantly higher in the RT-PCR-positive group. Using binary logistic regression analysis, LDH (OR: 1.008, 95% CI: 1.002-1.013, P = 0.004) and GGT (OR: 0.949, 95% CI: 0.903-0.997, P = 0.039) were independently associated with RT-PCR positivity.
Conclusion:
Among the investigated laboratory markers, LDH and GGT showed independent associations with RT-PCR positivity. Given the retrospective cross-sectional design, these findings should be interpreted as associations rather than evidence of predictive or causal relationships.
