Kirk Demir (hockeypull13)

The severity and outcome of COVID-19 cases has been associated with the percentage of circulating lymphocytes (LYM%), levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), lactic acid (LA), and viral load (ORF1ab Ct). However, the predictive power of each of these indicators in disease classification and prognosis remains largely unclear. We retrospectively collected information on the above parameters in 142 patients with COVID-19, stratifying them by survival or disease severity. CRP, PCT, IL-6, LYM%, and ORF1ab Ct were significantly altered between survivors and non-survivors. LYM%, CRP, and IL-6 were the most sensitive and reliable factors in distinguishing between survivors and non-survivors. These indicators were significantly different between critically ill and severe/moderate patients. Only LYM% levels were significantly different between severe and moderate types. Among all the investigated indicators, LYM% was the most sensitive and reliable in discriminating between critically ill, severe, and moderate types and between survivors and non-survivors. CRP, PCT, IL-6, LYM%, and ORF1ab Ct, but not LA, could predict prognosis and guide classification of COVID-19 patients. LYM% was the most sensitive and reliable predictor for disease typing and prognosis. We recommend that LYM% be further investigated in the management of COVID-19. This study was supported in part by awards from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Foundation and Frontier Research Project of Chongqing, and the Chongqing Youth Top Talent Project. This study was supported in part by awards from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Foundation and Frontier Research Project of Chongqing, and the Chongqing Youth Top Talent Project. Significant delays in the rapid development and distribution of diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection have prevented adequate public health management of the disease, impacting the timely mapping of viral spread and the conservation of personal protective equipment. Furthermore, vulnerable populations, such as those served by the Boston Medical Center (BMC), the largest safety net hospital in New England, represent a high-risk group across multiple dimensions, including a higher prevalence of pre-existing conditions and substance use disorders, lower health maintenance, unstable housing, and a propensity for rapid community spread, highlighting the urgent need for expedient and reliable in-house testing. We developed a SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic medium-throughput qRT-PCR assay with rapid turnaround time and utilized this Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified assay for testing nasopharyngeal swab samples from BMC patients, with emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The in-house testing platform displayed robust accuracy and reliability in validation studies and reduced institutional sample turnaround time from 5-7days to less than 24 h. Of over 1,000 unique patient samples tested, 44.1% were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. This work provides a blueprint for academic centers and community hospitals lacking automated laboratory machinery to implement rapid in-house testing. This study was supported by funding from the Boston University School of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, Boston Medical Center, and the Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness (MASS CPR). This study was supported by funding from the Boston University School of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, Boston Medical Center, and the Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness (MASS CPR). In December, 2019, a novel zoonotic severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus emerged in China. The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2