Changes in hematological and other laboratory parameters in COVID-19 infection

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-CoV-2 was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. The virus belongs to the family Coronaviridae and causes infection of varying severity ranging from mild respiratory tract infection to severe pneumonia or acute respiratory disease syndrome. Several laboratory parameters are deranged in COVID-19 infection. The gold standard of diagnosis of COVID-19 infection is polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab. However, at remote places, where PCR reports are made available to patients after a time gap laboratory parameters may guide the treating physician regarding diagnosis, disease severity, and prognosis.