2. Discuss the biomakers being requested/observed in the diagnosis of Covid-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection has now reached a pandemic state, affecting more than
a million patients worldwide. Predictors of disease outcomes in these patients need to be urgently
assessed to decrease morbidity and societal burden. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) has been associated
with worse outcomes in patients with viral infections. In this pooled analysis of 9 published studies (n =
1532 COVID-19 patients), we evaluated the association between elevated LDH levels measured at
earliest time point in hospitalization and disease outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Elevated LDH
levels were associated with a ~6-fold increase in odds of developing severe disease and a ~16-fold
increase in odds of mortality in patients with COVID-19. Next one is The C-reactive protein (CRP) test
measures the amount of CRP in your blood. CRP is a type of protein that is associated with inflammation
in the body. CRP is measured using a small blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm. Your doctor
might order a CRP test if you have symptoms of inflammation and The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
test for COVID-19 is a molecular test that analyzes your upper respiratory specimen, looking for genetic
material (ribonucleic acid or RNA) of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Scientists use the PCR
technology to amplify small amounts of RNA from specimens into deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is
replicated until SARS-CoV-2 is detectable if present. The PCR step then uses special chemicals and
enzymes and a PCR machine called a thermal cycler. Each heating and cooling cycle increases (amplifies)
the amount of the targeted genetic material in the test tube. After many cycles, millions of copies of a
small portion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s genetic material are present in the test tube. One of the
chemicals in the tube produces a fluorescent light if SARS-CoV-2 is present in the sample. Once amplified
enough, the PCR machine can detect this signal. Scientists use special software to interpret the signal as
a positive test result.