Routine lab tests are unreliable in diagnosing coronavirus in the long term, study suggests

New Delhi – Most routine laboratory tests cannot reliably diagnose chronic diseases caused by the new coronavirus, also known as SARS-CoV-2 post-infectious sequelae (PASC), a new study has found.

The study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, found no reliable biomarkers of a combination of previous infection, PASC or PASC symptoms among 25 common laboratory values, suggesting that these routine tests may be diagnostic of PASC.

“Our study shows that patients with normal lab results can develop severe Covid-19 symptoms,” said Christine Erlandson, professor of infectious diseases at Colorado State University’s Anschutz Medical Campus.

“This suggests that doctors should focus on patients’ symptoms and find ways to alleviate them, rather than relying on blood tests to diagnose chronic Covid-19,” Erlandson said.

David Goff, director of the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at the National Institutes of Health’s Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, emphasized the need to identify reliable biomarkers.

“The challenge we face is to find biomarkers that allow us to quickly and accurately diagnose chronic Covid-19 and ensure that people infected with the disease receive the best care as soon as possible,” he said.

“Long-term symptoms of COVID-19 can prevent you from returning to work or school and can make daily activities difficult, so it’s important to be able to diagnose the disease quickly.”

The research team noted that until reliable biomarkers are available, history taking and clinical evaluation remain the best methods for diagnosing PASC.

The study highlights the complexity of chronic COVID-19 infection in that it involves multiple physiological pathways that cannot be detected by traditional laboratory tests.   Researchers stress the importance of regular testing during the Covid-19 season to rule out other conditions.

Reference

Author: MedBlog18 Blog Team

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