Blogs

Diagnostic approaches and challenges in COVID-19

Diagnostic approaches

At the beginning of the pandemic, COVID-19 felt like SARS and MERS. In the pre-existing models, the diagnostic approach was included. However, with the severity of the infection and evolution of novel Coronavirus, it was evident that this infection would need a newer and tactical diagnosis. The impact of the disease, paucity of resources, and need for specific tests mounted the crisis to higher levels. As a result, screening by rapid antigen test and confirmation by RT-PCR became the norm.
Continue reading

Neutralizing Antibodies: among the cocktail of Antibodies?

The severity of the viral infection depends on many factors. Virulence of antigens, the collapse of the immune system, and the production of antibodies are factors. Delay in the production of antibodies due to prolonged antigenic phase can lead to complications. The antibodies are specific to different antigens and bind to particular receptors. Therefore, the antibodies are produced in various stages of infection.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus begins infection as a typical Respiratory disease. As the antigen level drops, antibodies like IgM and IgA take place in the system. The IgM remains in the host system from the eighth day to the twenty-sixth day, along with IgA. After which, it disappears from the system. The secondary antibody in IgG remains in the system for the later part of the convalescent phase until the patient has recovered. Cell-mediated immunity plays a vital role in developing the defense mechanism of the host. After infection with SARS-CoV-2, individuals develop Neutralizing antibodies. The concentrations of these antibodies vary from one individual to the other depending on their immune response. Vaccination against COVID can boost the production of NAbs in the host.

The diagnosis of COVID depends on the detection of antibodies, thereby determining the stage of infection. The Diagnostic kits can screen both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. The novel pathogenicity SARS-CoV-2 posed many challenges for the development of antibody detection kits. The window period, the receptors, the antigenic proteins were all unknown for COVID. Hence, previous models of MERS and SARS helped in making the ideal cocktail of the antibodies. In addition, the analysis of local samples obtained in the course of the infection has helped to understand the use of specific antibodies.

Since the pandemic’s start, J Mitra & Co. is catering to the need for Antibody testing for COVID-19 infection. It became the first company to develop and manufacture the COVID-19 (IgM+IgA+IgG) ELISA kit, followed by the COVID-19 Kawach IgG ELISA kit. Both these kits suited well for the early and the late stages of the infection. The second wave of COVID-19 has proved to be more challenging. The use of Neutralizing Antibodies for the diagnosis of COVID addressed this challenge. The company developed the COVID-19 Neutralizing Antibody kit. It has >95% Sensitivity and 100% Specificity.

Antigen Testing in ELISA: A Specific Test At A Precise Time

Antigen Testing in ELISA

Unlike any other viral infection, COVID-19 brought in its own set of challenges. The virulence, pathogenicity of the antigens was unknown. Although a member of the Coronavirus family, SARS-CoV-2 was novel in every form of the infection. The last decade saw pandemics from this family of viruses but never had the severity of the virus comprehended in such a manner.
Continue reading

Rapid Antigen Test for COVID-19: Evolution and Significance

SARS-CoV-2 uniquely causes infection. It manifests lately in the respiratory system and then brings about a total collapse of the immune response. One strain of the virus caused the first wave of COVID-19 infection. The mortality was although relatively low in the first wave. The overlapping symptoms of COVID-19 with other respiratory diseases posed a challenge for the proper diagnosis of the condition. It was of prime importance to develop a diagnostic mechanism to screen the infected people in the population. The idea was to contain the spread of the infection.
Continue reading

Why are Neutralizing Antibodies for COVID-19 Diagnosis?

COVID-19

COVID-19 pandemic has opened the frontiers of viral pathogenicity to the next level. In 2020, the first wave of COVID-19 infection carried only one strain. The COVID-19 severity thus is contained timely. The second wave hit hard in February of 2021, with many strains infecting in a whole spree. There were local as well as migratory mutants which had proved to fatal than before. Several factors like dropping the guard early, gathering in public places, and delayed vaccination drive, have lead to the rise in mortality and the slow recovery of patients.
Continue reading

COVID-19 Neutralization Test

COVID-19 Neutralization Test

Key Highlights :
Scientists discovered Neutralization antibodies in May 2020 and a possible indicator for treatment and diagnostic target. One of the excellent outcomes of the pandemic has been COVID-19 Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). B cells in the human body produce these NAB.NAB’s primary function is to stop infections by eliminating the invading pathogen.
Continue reading