Significance of serology testing to assist timely diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infections: implication from a family cluster

Emerg Microbes Infect. 2020 Dec;9(1):924-927. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1752610.

Abstract

Confirmative diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infections has been challenged due to unsatisfactory positive rate of molecular assays. Here we identified a family cluster of SARS-CoV-2 infections, with five of six family members were SARS-CoV-2-specific immunoglobin serology testing positive, while molecular assays only detected two of this five patients even repeated twice. We comprehensively analyzed this familial cluster of cases based on the clinical characteristics, chest CT images, SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection results, and serology testing results. At last, two patients were diagnosed with COVID-19, two were suspected of COVID-19, and two were considered close contacts. Our results emphasized the significance of serology testing to assist timely diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infections, especially for COVID-19 close contacts screening.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Betacoronavirus / genetics
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology
  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification*
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • China
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques / standards*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Coronavirus Infections* / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections* / diagnostic imaging
  • Family*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / diagnostic imaging
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / standards
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Serologic Tests / standards
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Immunoglobulins

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the grant from by “13th Five-Year” National Science and Technology Major Project for New Drugs [grant number 2019ZX09734001-002].