IgM and IgG antibodies status in suspected patients of Covid-19 in
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Abstract
Background: Till date people are being diagnosed through Polymerase
Chain Reaction (PCR). But due to high population burden being infected,
need exist to have alternate method of screening and diagnosis.
Objective: To introduce alternate method of screening in the Khyber
Pakhtunkwa (KPK) province of Pakistan so as to enhance the testing
capacity, to overcome the burden over the PCR facility and to aware the
general as well as suspected population for their immune status.
Methodology: This study was conducted in Real Time PCR Laboratory and
the patients were enrolled from April to 15th June 2020. A total of 200
suspected individuals with the age group of 20->60 were
included. All of these patients were screened for IgM and IgG status
using Immunu chromatographic Technique (ICT) (AMP, Australian). Results:
Out of total 200 enrolled suspected patients, 92 (46%) subjects were
positive for antibody (IgM and IgG). Among 92 positive patients, IgM and
IgG positive patients were 7 (8%) and 85 (92%) respectively. Male and
female subjects among total positive were 72 (51%) and 20 (3%)
respectively. Age group of 20-30 was more affected, followed by age
group of 30-40 and the least was age group of >60. The most
noted symptoms associated with suspected subjects were temperature
(85%), followed by body aches (80%), dry cough (77%) and sore throat
(70%). Conclusion: Positivity ratio of antibodies IgM and IgG is quite
high (46%) among the suspected patients and the most age group affected
was 20-30, with most noted symptoms of temperature