1.Diagnostic performance of COVID-19 serology assays
The Malaysian Journal of Pathology 2020;42(1):13-21
Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 outbreak as a world pandemic on 12th March 2020. Diagnosis of suspected cases is confirmed by nucleic acid assays with real-time PCR, using respiratory samples. Serology tests are comparatively easier to perform, but their utility may be limited by the performance and the fact that antibodies appear later during the disease course. We aimed to describe the performance data on serological assays for COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A review of multiple reports and kit inserts on the diagnostic performance of rapid tests from various manufacturers that are commercially available were performed. Only preliminary data are available currently. Results: From a total of nine rapid detection test (RDT) kits, three kits offer total antibody detection, while six kits offer combination SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG detection in two separate test lines. All kits are based on colloidal gold-labeled immunochromatography principle and one-step method with results obtained within 15 minutes, using whole blood, serum or plasma samples. The sensitivity for both IgM and IgG tests ranges between 72.7% and 100%, while specificity ranges between 98.7% to 100%. Two immunochromatography using nasopharyngeal or throat swab for detection of COVID-19 specific antigen are also reviewed. Conclusions: There is much to determine regarding the value of serological testing in COVID-19 diagnosis and monitoring. More comprehensive evaluations of their performance are rapidly underway. The use of serology methods requires appropriate interpretations of the results and understanding the strengths and limitations of such tests.
2.Emergence Of Dengue Virus Type 4 During COVID-19 Pandemic In Patients Admitted to a Teaching Hospital In Malaysia (Peningkatan virus denggi serotip keempat semasa pandemik COVID-19 pada pesakit yang dimasukkan ke hospital pengajar di Malaysia)
Mahrunissa Mahadi ; Siti Norlia Othman ; Najma Kori ; Sharifah Azura Salleh ; Zetti Zainol Rashid ; Petrick Periyasamy ; Nor Azila Muhammad Azami ; Noraidatulakma Abdullah ; Hui-min Neoh
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2023;21(No.1):115-125
Prior to COVID-19, dengue was an important public health problem in Malaysia. Due to the movement control order
imposed by the Malaysian government to curb the COVID-19 transmission, a study predicted that mosquito-borne
diseases would increase during lockdown and partial lockdown seasons. Thus, this study aims to determine the current
situation of dengue incidence during the pre-COVID-19 pandemic (2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020
and 2021). We compared the number of laboratory-confirmed cases in the pre-COVID19 year (2019) and during the
COVID-19 pandemic (2020 and 2021). In addition to that, we characterized the clinical manifestation, dengue serotype
and viremia levels of dengue patients that were admitted to the Hospital Cancelor Tuanku Muhriz. We found a significant
decrease in the number of laboratory-confirmed cases between COVID-19 pandemic and the pre-covid period
(p2020=0.064; p2021<0.001). In this study, we found DENV 4 serotype was the most common serotype in dengue
patients admitted to our hospital. There was no significant correlation between DENV serotype/viremia level with
clinical manifestation of dengue fever and dengue with warning signs. However, patients infected with DENV4 had the
highest viral load compared to patients infected with other serotypes. We also found high viremia levels were significantly
associated with the febrile phase.