Diagnosis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 by Potential Laboratory Factors

Aims: COVID-19 is associated with infection and high death rate. The unresolved questions about the fatality rate of COVID-19 is most probably related to cytokine storm syndrome. There is currently no specific medication. Understanding the laboratory diagnostic tests will lead to the production of treatment and decreases of death rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of peripheral blood parameters (Interleukin-6, Ferritin and hematological parameters) in COVID-19 patients Materials Methods: In this descriptive-comparative study, data was collected from 270 subjects in two groups according to RT-PCR test results, including 133 COVID-19 patients and 137 non-COVID-19 patients, between March 20 and May 21, 2020. The clinical characteristics and laboratory findings of patients were collected from electronic Health Information Systems using data collection forms in Shahid Jalil Hospital of Yasuj University of medical sciences, Yasuj, Iran. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 20. Chi-square, Mann-Whitney tests and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. Findings: There were no significant differences in the age and sex ratio between two groups. The mean IL-6 and Ferritin levels and hematological parameters between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients were significantly different (p=0.001). Conclusion: The coronavirus affects the inflammatory markers specifically IL-6 and Ferritin and hematological parameters (WBC, Lymphocytes, Neutrophils, Platelet and Hb).