Bumrungrad COVID-19 Recovery Clinic

Bumrungrad COVID-19 Recovery Clinic – COVID-19 is the disease caused by a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 spreads mainly by droplets or aerosols from the nose or mouth of infected person. The onset of symptoms is around 2 14 days. The symptoms of COVID 19 include fever, fatigue, headache, runny nose, sore throat, cough, loss of taste or smell. Some people may experience severe symptoms like pneumonia and death.

COVID-19 Symptoms

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, fatigue, nasal congestion, muscle or joint pain, sore throat, headache, chills or dizziness, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, conjunctivitis (also known as red eyes).

If symptoms such as a fever, coughing, sneezing, and nausea are present, or if the patient is otherwise deemed to be at risk of contracting COVID-19 there are numerous ways to confirm whether an infection has occurred or not:

  1. Detecting the viral RNA with rRT-PCRrRT-PCR is the gold standard for SARS-CoV 2 screening, with a high specificity and sensitivity.  Only a very small amount of the viral genetic material needs to be present for the genes to be detected, regardless of whether the virus is still viable or not. The specimen is collected from of the secretions in the patient’s airways. It is a very timely and effective method of detecting the virus with results known within 3-5 hours so that treatment can begin during the earliest stages of infection.
  2. Detecting the viral protein with antigen test kit (ATK)
    The ATK tests for COVID-19 by detecting the proteins or antigens of the SARS-CoV-2 found in the secretions of the nasopharyngeal cavity. The results will be ready within 15-30 minutes. While fast, the specificity and sensitivity are not as great as the rRT-PCR. However, it enables mass screening at a much higher rate. Patients who want to use the ATK should collect test samples from the first day that they experience respiratory difficulties or any other symptoms indicative of COVID-19. A retest may be required 3-5 days after the first test, to be sure.
    1. Checking your antibody responses

      3.1 The IgM/IgG antibody test (RDT: Rapid Diagnostic Test) takes a blood sample and gives a result within 15 minutes. If used in the early stage of infection the results may show as negative even if COVID-19 is present, because the immune system has not yet responded to the virus. It usually takes 1 – 3 weeks after initial infection for the body to produce the IgM and IgG antibodies.

      3.2 Quantitative testing for IgG response to SARS-CoV-2 using chemiluminescent microparticle immuno-assay (CMIA). This requires a blood sample to be taken in order to measure the body’s IgG response to the spike (RBD) protein, which is what the virus uses to enter human cells (especially in the respiratory system), leading to infection and illness. If the antibody levels are high enough, the chances of infection and the severity of the symptoms may lessen. This is not a diagnostic test for COVID-19 and a positive test result does not guarantee that there will be no infection.

      3.3 Testing for the neutralizing (NT) antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). This test gives an indication of the effectiveness of the neutralizing antibody in stopping the SARS-CoV-2 virus from entering cells and replicating themselves.

    Further information on the testing of the immune system response to COVID-19

    1. If you test negative after being fully vaccinated, it may be because:
      • The blood sample is too old
      • You are immunocompromised or taking immunosuppressants.
      • The particular properties of vaccine that you received
      • The inherently differing physiological responses that occur across ages and gender.
    1. Testing positive does not necessarily mean that you will not be infected or spread the virus to others. It is advised that you continue to stringently follow Ministry of Public Health guidelines.

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