NEAT1 and MALAT1 are highly expressed in saliva and nasopharyngeal swab sample of COVID‐19 patients

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly worldwide since the first cases were observed in Wuhan, China. Patients with COVID-19 develop multiple neurological symptoms, including headache, disturbed consciousness, and paresthesia, in addition to systemic and respiratory symptoms. Case presentation We presented a 57-year-old woman admitted to the emergency department – in December 2020 – with complaints of slurred speech, confusion, and left upper limb weakness after one week of positive nasopharyngeal swab sample SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions While the patient had previous comorbidities like hypertension and diabetes, she had no prior history of ischemic stroke or thrombosis, so we conclude that unilateral acute basal ganglia infarction may be a unique neurological manifestation after COVID-19 infection in an elderly patient with previous comorbidities.

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Head-to-head comparison of SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detecting rapid test with self-collected anterior nasal swab versus professional-collected nasopharyngeal swab

10.1101/2020.10.26.20219600 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Andreas K. Lindner ◽

Olga Nikolai ◽

Franka Kausch ◽

Mia Wintel ◽

Franziska Hommes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Point Of Care ◽

Rapid Test ◽

High Viral Load ◽

Ease Of Use ◽

Healthcare Personnel ◽

Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽

Swab Sample ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Percent Agreement ◽

Accuracy Study

AbstractBackgroundTwo antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) are now approved through the WHO Emergency Use Listing procedure and can be performed at the point-of-care. However, both tests use nasopharyngeal (NP) swab samples. NP swab samples must be collected by trained healthcare personnel with protective equipment and are frequently perceived as uncomfortable by patients.MethodsThis was a manufacturer-independent, prospective diagnostic accuracy study with comparison of a supervised, self-collected anterior nose (AN) swab sample with a professional-collected NP swab sample, using a WHO-listed SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDT, STANDARD Q COVID-19 Ag Test (SD Biosensor), which is also being distributed by Roche. The reference standard was RT-PCR from an oro-/nasopharyngeal swab sample. Percent positive and negative agreement as well as sensitivity and specificity were calculated.ResultsAmong the 289 participants, 39 (13.5%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. The positive percent agreement of the two different sampling techniques for the Ag-RDT was 90.6% (CI 75.8-96.8). The negative percent agreement was 99.2% (CI 97.2-99.8). The Ag-RDT with AN sampling showed a sensitivity of 74.4% (29/39 PCR positives detected; CI 58.9-85.4) and specificity of 99.2% (CI 97.1-99.8) compared to RT-PCR. The sensitivity with NP sampling was 79.5% (31/39 PCR positives detected; CI 64.5-89.2) and specificity was 99.6% (CI 97.8-100). In patients with high viral load (>7.0 log 10 RNA SARS-CoV2/swab), the sensitivity of the Ag-RDT with AN sampling was 96% and 100% with NP sampling.ConclusionSupervised self-sampling from the anterior nose is a reliable alternative to professional nasopharyngeal sampling using a WHO-listed SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDT. Considering the ease-of-use of Ag-RDTs, self-sampling and potentially patient self-testing at home may be a future use case.

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Clinical Case: SARS-CoV-2 Reactivation After a Heavy Workout

Acta Medica Bulgarica ◽

10.2478/amb-2020-0033 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 38-40

Author(s):

S. Marchev ◽

N. Hadzhimineva ◽

A. Simidchiev

Keyword(s):

Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Real Time ◽

Clinical Case ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Strenuous Exercise ◽

Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽

Shortness Of Breath ◽

Swab Sample ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Polymerase Chain

AbstractWe present a clinical case of a patient with reactivation of SARS-CoV-2 infection after strenuous exercise in the gym. Reactivation of the virus was confirmed after detecting SARS-CoV-2 in a nasopharyngeal swab sample using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The clinical symptoms of the patient – fever and shortness of breath, as well as the presence of IgM antibodies further confirmed the diagnosis. The subjective complaints of persistent shortness of breath for more than a few weeks were noted.

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Basal Ganglia Infarction a Rare Neurological Manifestation of COVID-19 in an Elderly Patient: A Case Report

10.21203/rs.3.rs-553242/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Manar Ahmed Kamal

Keyword(s):

Elderly Patient ◽

Emergency Department ◽

Case Report ◽

Basal Ganglia ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Neurological Manifestation ◽

Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽

Swab Sample ◽

Limb Weakness ◽

Case Presentation

Abstract Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly worldwide since the first cases were observed in Wuhan, China. Patients with COVID-19 develop multiple neurological symptoms, including headache, disturbed consciousness, and paresthesia, in addition to systemic and respiratory symptoms. Case presentation: We presented a 57-years-old woman admitted to the emergency department (ED) - in December 2020 - with complaints of slurred speech, confusion, and left upper limb weakness after one week of positive nasopharyngeal swab sample for SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion: This case report concludes that unilateral acute basal ganglia infarction may be a unique neurological manifestation after COVID-19 infection in an elderly patient.

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Cervicovaginal COVID-19 Positivity: A Pilot Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-395951/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Barış Çiplak ◽

Yavuz Şimşek ◽

Mustafa Kara ◽

Rukiye Akyol ◽

Lokman Hizmali ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Tract ◽

Sexual Transmission ◽

Reproductive Organs ◽

Female Reproductive Tract ◽

Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽

Swab Sample ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Viral Nucleic Acid ◽

Cervical Swab ◽

Cervicovaginal Fluid

Abstract Purpose: ACE 2 RNA expression has been detected in organs of the female reproductive tract, suggesting that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could potentially infect female reproductive organs. In this study, we investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the cervicovaginal fluid.Materials and Methods: Our study included 31 female patients aged 18–65 years. The presence of SARS-COV-2 RNA was investigated by RT-PCR in two separate cervicovaginal swab samples collected from patients 14 days apart. Viral RNA was extracted using viral nucleic acid buffer (vNAT) solution, and SARS-COV-2 RNA was analyzed using Bio-speedy SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR kits in Bio-Rad CFX96 TouchTM device.Results: The first and second cervical swab samples were collected from 22 of 31 patients 14 days apart. The first cervical swab sample was collected from 9 patients; however, the second swab sample could not be collected after 14 days. SARS-COV-2 RNA result was negative in 100% of a total of 53 cervicovaginal swab samples collected. Moreover, the SARS-COV-2 RNA result was negative in the nasopharyngeal swab of babies after delivery in three pregnant women.Conclusion: Negative SARS-COV-2 RNA results in cervicovaginal swab samples suggest that there is no sexual transmission of COVID-19 and no vertical transmission during pregnancy. However, the number of studies conducted on this subject and the sample size examined are still insufficient.

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C-reactive protein levels associated with COVID-19 outcomes in the United States

Journal of Osteopathic Medicine ◽

10.1515/jom-2021-0103 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Jacob Lentner ◽

Taylor Adams ◽

Valene Knutson ◽

Sarah Zeien ◽

Hassan Abbas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electronic Medical Records ◽

Patient Outcomes ◽

Medical Records ◽

The United States ◽

Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽

Swab Sample ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Unit Increase

Abstract Context COVID-19 caused a worldwide pandemic, and there are still many uncertainties about the disease. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels could be utilized as a prognosticator for disease severity in COVID-19 patients. Objectives This study aims to determine whether CRP levels are correlated with COVID-19 patient outcomes and length of stay (LoS). Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted utilizing data obtained between March and May 2020. Data were collected by abstracting past medical records through electronic medical records at 10 hospitals within CommonSpirit Health. Patients were included if they had a positive COVID-19 test from a nasopharyngeal swab sample, and if they were admitted and then discharged alive or had in-hospital mortality and were ≥18 years. A total of 541 patients had CRP levels measured and were included in this report. Patient outcome and LoS were the endpoints measured. Results The 541 patients had their CRP levels measured, as well as the demographic and clinical data required for analysis. While controlling for body mass index (BMI), number of comorbidities, and age, the first CRP was significantly predictive of mortality (p<0.001). The odds ratio for first CRP indicates that for each one-unit increase in CRP, the odds of death increased by 0.007. For LoS, the first CRP was a significant predictor (p<0.001), along with age (p=0.002). The number of comorbidities also predicted LoS (p=0.007), but BMI did not. The coefficient for the first CRP indicates that, for each one-unit increase in CRP, LoS increased 0.003 days. Conclusions The results indicate that there is a positive correlation between the CRP levels of COVID-19 patients and their respective outcomes with regard to death and LoS.

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Genome Sequence of a SARS-CoV-2 Strain from a COVID-19 Clinical Sample from the Khagrachari District of Bangladesh

Microbiology Resource Announcements ◽

10.1128/mra.00189-21 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (13) ◽

Author(s):

M. Imranul Hoq ◽

Robiul Hasan Bhuiyan ◽

M. Khondakar Raziur Rahman ◽

Imam Hossen ◽

Sajib Rudra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Genome Sequence ◽

Clinical Sample ◽

Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽

Swab Sample

ABSTRACT This study describes the genome sequence of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strain detected in the nasopharyngeal swab sample of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient from the southeastern Khagrachari District of Bangladesh.

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Shifting from nasopharyngeal swab to sputum for mass screening of COVID-19 patients in India- A public health perspective

10.36295/asro.2020.232145 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (19) ◽

Author(s):

Nishantadeb Ghatak ◽

Sheikh Mohd Saleem ◽

Roy Rillera Marzo ◽

Sudip Bhattacharya ◽

Amarjeet Singh

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mass Screening ◽

Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽

Public Health Perspective

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Scoring System for the Diagnosis of COVID-19

The Open Public Health Journal ◽

10.2174/1874944502013010413 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 413-414 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mohamed Farouk Allam

Keyword(s):

Scoring System ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

False Negative ◽

Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

Negative Results ◽

False Negative Results ◽

Symptoms And Signs

Due to the international spread of COVID-19, the difficulty of collecting nasopharyngeal swab specimen from all suspected patients, the costs of RT-PCR and CT, and the false negative results of RT-PCR assay in 41% of COVID-19 patients, a scoring system is needed to classify the suspected patients in order to determine the need for follow-up, home isolation, quarantine or the conduction of further investigations. A scoring system is proposed as a diagnostic tool for suspected patients. It includes Epidemiological Evidence of Exposure, Clinical Symptoms and Signs, and Investigations (if available). This scoring system is simple, could be calculated in a few minutes, and incorporates the main possible data/findings of any patient.

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Effective optimization of SARS-CoV-2 laboratory testing variables in an era of supply chain constraints

Future Microbiology ◽

10.2217/fmb-2020-0094 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (15) ◽

pp. 1483-1487

Author(s):

Nikhil S Sahajpal ◽

Ashis K Mondal ◽

Allan Njau ◽

Sudha Ananth ◽

Kimya Jones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Rna Extraction ◽

Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

Short Supply ◽

Viral Transport ◽

3D Printed ◽

Bridging Studies

RT-PCR-based assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 have played an essential role in the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, the sample collection and test reagents are in short supply, primarily due to supply chain issues. Thus, to eliminate testing constraints, we have optimized three key process variables: RNA extraction and RT-PCR reactions, different sample types and media to facilitate SARS-CoV-2 testing. By performing various validation and bridging studies, we have shown that various sample types such as nasopharyngeal swab, bronchioalveolar lavage and saliva, collected using conventional nasopharyngeal swabs, ESwab or 3D-printed swabs and, preserved in viral transport media, universal transport media, 0.9% sodium chloride or Amies media are compatible with RT-PCR assay for COVID-19. Besides, the reduction of PCR reagents by up to fourfold also produces reliable results.

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