Validity of CBC Differential Count for Diagnosis of COVID-19

Abstract

HO declared that COVID-19 is a pandemic disease, affecting over 200 countries (more than 13 million cases worldwide are reported). Many cities have established designated fever clinics to triage suspected COVID-19 patients from other patients with similar symptoms A key to decrease the spread towards outbreak containment is rapid diagnosis and isolation of cases. This relies on effective triage protocols identifying suspected patients for isolation or further diagnostic examination towards timely treatment. Designated fever clinics were quickly established across epidemic regions to triage suspected patients, the symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, fatigue, sore throat, diarrhoea, loss of taste, loss of smell and respiratory symptoms such as dry cough and shortness of breath. These symptoms are not specific, and confused with other non-bacterial community-acquired pneumonia or common upper respiratory infection. Thus, a critical task of triage at the fever clinic was how to accurately and effectively sort suspected COVID-19 patients from those of other respiratory infection who presented with COVID-19-like symptoms.