Diagnostic value of using a combination of nucleic acid and specific antibody tests for SARS-CoV-2 in coronavirus disease 2019

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly emerged disease with various clinical manifestations and imaging features. The diagnosis of COVID-19 depends on a positive nucleic acid amplification test by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, the clinical manifestations and imaging features of COVID-19 are non-specific, and nucleic acid test for SARS-CoV-2 can have false-negative results. It is presently believed that detection of specific antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 is an effective screening and diagnostic indicator for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, a combination of nucleic acid and specific antibody tests for SARS-CoV-2 will be more effective to diagnose COVID-19, especially to exclude suspected cases.

Keywords: Antibody; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; nucleic acid.

Fig. 1.

Chest CT of case 1 obtained on 18 February 2020 showing ground glass opacity (a, red arrow) and consolidation (a, b, yellow arrow) in right upper lobe of lung. Chest CT of case 1 obtained on 2 March 2020 showing significant improvement after 1 week' treatment (c, d). Chest CT of case 2 obtained on 10 February 2020 showing ground glass opacity in right lower of lung (e, blue arrow). Chest CT of case 2 obtained on 23 February 2020 showing normal after 10 days of treatment (g, h).