Role of Antibodies against SARS-COV-2 in the Detection of Corona Virus, its Transmissibility and Immunological Status Determination among Different Population in Babylon Province

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The fast worldwide spreading and the elevation of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic wave lead to decrease capacity of health-care units. It is important to add serology testing to assess viral transmissibility and the possibility of protection against reinfection. AIM: We aimed to assess the transmissibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 in the community and to assess the immunological response, qualitative assay of immunoglobulins (Ig) G and IgM, and the possibility of reinfection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study included a total of 553 patients. We used a rapid test cassette of Biozek Medical Company/Netherland of COVID-19 IgG/IgM. It is a chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of IgG and IgM antibodies against the COVID-19 virus in human blood. Biozek Medical Company has created this highly accurate, UK approved, COVID-19 test, which provides high accuracy within 15 min. All required information were collected with the patients’ consent. The statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics, 2016, Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. RESULTS: A total of 320 (57.9%) males and 233 (42.1%) females aged between 2 to 88 years. A significant correlation was found between the age of patients and chronic diseases. While most of the patients did not have any chronic diseases, the patients who had those diseases were mostly aged between their forties to more than 60 of age. A highly significant correlation was found between IgM level in the serum of the patient and the presence of symptoms. A significant correlation was found with chronic diseases and the level of IgG in the serum of patients. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found in patients with previous COVID-19 infections. CONCLUSIONS: Serological testing of IgM and IgG for COVID-19 is very helpful in diagnosing asymptomatic and symptomatic patients, evaluating the immunological status of individuals toward COVID-19 and giving an idea about the spreading of COVID-19 among different populations.