Blood tests for COVID-19

Blood tests for COVID-19

With getting an RT-PCR often tough, there are some blood tests that can help your doctor determine if you have been exposed to the Covid-19 virus.

The most commonly prescribed blood tests when a doctor suspects COVID or when you are COVID positive are the following.

1.HS-CRP - High sensitive C-reactive protein

2.CBC Complete Blood Picture

3.Lactate Dehydrogenase LDH Test

4.D Dimer

5.Interleukin 6

6.LFT Blood Test: Liver Function test

7.Ferritin

8.Serum Creatinine

All above Tests are covered in Infection Checkup profile that is conducted by Thyrocare

Some of these tests are the ones you may have done when you got a health checkup. Some specific ones are related to inflammation like CRP and IL-6. D-Dimer is related to blood clots that likely occurs when a person is infected with Covonavirus.

So what is the significance of each of these tests?

High sensitive C reactive protein (HS-CRP) - HS C-reactive protein (CRP) is produced by liver and its levels can be measured in the blood. Increased levels are taken as an indicative of inflammatory or cardiac condition.

CBC Complete Blood Picture - A complete Hemogram includes a total of 28 parameters that plays a vital role in assessing infections, disorders as well as the overall health of an individual including RBC, WBC, platelets counts etc.

Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Test - This test is used to find out if you have tissue damage and to Monitor disorders that cause tissue damage.

D Dimer - A D-dimer test is a blood test that can be used to help rule out the presence of a significant blood clot.

Interleukin 6 - An elevated IL-6 may mean that the person tested has an inflammatory condition. IL-6 is elevated with a variety of conditions like inflammation, infection, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular diseases and Covid-19

LFT Test - SGPT and SGOT levels in LFT test are an indication of liver cell injury or damage and hence they should be detected in Covid-19

Ferritin - This test acts as a marker for COVID infection. The role of iron metabolism is directly involved in COVID infection.

All above Tests are covered in Infection Checkup profile that is conducted by Thyrocare