Transasia Bio-Medicals Ltd.

  Clinicians have been relying on urine testing, which  is giving medical experts a plethora of information,  to monitor patients’ renal function which can be impacted by COVID-19.  Involvement of kidney Researchers have been able to successfully isolate SARS-CoV-2 from the urine sample of an infected patient, suggesting that the virus attacks the kidneys. SARS-CoV-2 uses the Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE 2) receptor for entry and multiplication. Therefore cells expressing ACE2 may be target cells and are thus susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Such cells include alveolar type II cells of the lungs and podocytes which are typically found in the kidneys. Once it enters the cells, the virus causes sepsis leading to cytokine storm syndrome or direct cellular injury.    Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) - an independent risk factor Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) or acute renal failure is a sudden episode of kidney failure or damage that happens within in a short peri...

SARS-CoV-2 continues to baffle medical experts with its presentations. It is crucial for clinicians to identify early, those who are at risk. This will aid them in recognizing the future need for admission to ICU, improve allocation of patients for specific therapies and initiation of preventive strategies.   While initially it was assumed that the virus damages only the lungs, studies have concluded its impact on various other organs too. Routine parameters in blood and urine are useful to provide novel insights in the patho-physiology of COVID-19 and its severity.  Significant reduction in Absolute Lymphocyte Count and Hemoglobin, is associated with increase in total WBC count, absolute Neutrophil count, ESR, Prothrombin Time and Pro-calcitonin. These lab findings, especially elevated Ferritin, suggest an imminent ‘Cytokine Storm’ which might lead to complications like Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Pneumonia and Multi-organ Failure (MOD). Important laborat...