Abstract
Background: The causative agent of the present COVID-19 pandemic is a novel RNA virus called SARS CoV-2. Clinical laboratory has a central role in the diagnosis, prognosis, and predicting the progression of the disease. Several hematological, biochemical, immunological, and coagulation parameters change during the course of the disease. Based on the information from several studies, it is presumed that virus replication alters the immune system of the body. These alterations cause cellular damage in various organs like the lungs, liver, heart, and bone marrow. Ultimately, it may lead to multi-organ failure and death. Methods: An internet search in Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and Scholarly articles was performed. Studies reporting on changes in laboratory parameters in COVID-19 were selected, data extracted, and analyzed. Conclusion: Laboratory markers are helpful in the diagnosis of cases and more importantly, to identify those patients where chances of disease progression to severity are present. This will not only reduce the burden on the
 health care system but also reduce the mortality rate by channelizing resources to those cases who need critical care and management.
Highlights
The first case of COVID-19 was reported in December 2019 from Wuhan city in China
In March 2020 the WHO declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, as the disease spread across the globe cutting across geographical boundaries[4]
The standard tests used for the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection are molecular tests like the Reverse TranscriptasePolymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and the immunological tests
Summary
The first case of COVID-19 was reported in December 2019 from Wuhan city in China. WHO declared it a disease of Public Health Emergency of International Concern in January 2020 and on 12th February 2020, officially named the disease as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)[1,2]. Ever since the disease has rapidly spread to more than 227 countries across the globe. Since 31 December 2019 and as of 24 August 2020, 23,311,719 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 806,410 deaths, reported to WHO3. In March 2020 the WHO declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, as the disease spread across the globe cutting across geographical boundaries[4]. This pandemic has brought an enormous burden on the healthcare system and almost crippled the world economy. The proportion of the effect is evident more among the lower and middleclass economic countries where the health care system is at its bare minimum
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