Flu Profile (for suspected COVID-19 patients)

Why test for Flu Profile (for suspected COVID-19 patients)

Flu-Profile or Flu like symptoms profile is a specifically designed lab test package: 

These tests are particularly useful to assess the status of patients with COVID-19 infection or those suspected of the infection. 

The lab tests included in this package are useful to predict the severity of infection, risk factors to develop severe disease and complications in COVID-19 positive patients. 

In the early stage of COVID-19, C-reactive protein levels can reflect the extent of lung lesions and disease severity. It provides an important clinical evaluation index. CRP levels can reflect disease changes, especially for patients who are not suitable to be referred to other facilities or patients in critical condition.

Elevated levels of ferritin, or hyperferritinemia, indicate the presence of viruses and bacteria into the body. Hyperferritinemia has been associated with increased illness severity and adverse outcomes, including COVID-19.

IL-6 is responsible for elevation of acute phase reactants, such as C?reactive protein, serum amyloid A, fibrinogen, and hepcidin, and inhibition of albumin synthesis. The dysregulated production of IL?6 has been attributed to autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. IL?6 is an important marker of inflammation and can guide the clinicians in recognizing patients with severe COVID?19 early in the disease course. Study shows that IL-6 is an effective marker that might be able to predict upcoming respiratory failure with high accuracy and help physicians correctly allocate patients at an early stage.

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) has been associated with worse outcomes in patients with viral infections. In a study elevated LDH levels were associated with increase in odds of developing severe disease and an increase in odds of mortality in patients with COVID-19. 

The recently published IFCC Guidelines on COVID-19 strongly suggest D-Dimer testing in patients with COVID-19, since studies on SARS-CoV-2 revealed a high correlation between severity and outcome of COVID-19 in patients with increased D-Dimer levels. A study related, increased D-Dimer levels as a predictor of developing acute respiratory distress in COVID-19, mentioning the probability of micro pulmonary embolism especially in severe forms of COVID-19.