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Dynamic analysis of IgM and IgG antibody in asymptomatic patients as a more effective way to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection
  • +16
  • Ping Li,
  • Ge Shen,
  • Zhenhua Zhu,
  • Shengjie Shi,
  • Yan Hu,
  • Ziyan Zeng,
  • Hui Zhou,
  • Qiong Li,
  • Pan Zhu,
  • Gang Yang,
  • Zugui Liu,
  • Huiyuan FU,
  • Junyu Hu,
  • Ying He,
  • Qingting Yang,
  • Miao Dai,
  • Dan Zhou,
  • Qingqing Lu,
  • Xiaobing Xie
Ping Li
First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Ge Shen
Loudi Center for Diseases Control and Prevention
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Zhenhua Zhu
First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine
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Shengjie Shi
Hunan University of Chinese Medicine
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Yan Hu
First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine
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Ziyan Zeng
Loudi Center for Diseases Control and Prevention
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Hui Zhou
First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine
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Qiong Li
First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine
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Pan Zhu
Loudi Center for Diseases Control and Prevention
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Gang Yang
Loudi Center for Diseases Control and Prevention
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Zugui Liu
Loudi Center for Diseases Control and Prevention
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Huiyuan FU
Loudi Center for Diseases Control and Prevention
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Junyu Hu
Loudi Center for Diseases Control and Prevention
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Ying He
Loudi Center for Diseases Control and Prevention
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Qingting Yang
Loudi Center for Diseases Control and Prevention
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Miao Dai
Loudi Center for Diseases Control and Prevention
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Dan Zhou
Loudi Center for Diseases Control and Prevention
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Qingqing Lu
Hunan University of Chinese Medicine
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Xiaobing Xie
First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine
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Abstract

Background:COVID-19 has become a global epidemic, close contacts and asymptomatic patients are worthy of attention. Methods:A total of 1844 people in close contact with 76 COVID-19 patients were investigated, and nasopharyngeal swabs and venous blood were collected for centralized medical quarantine observation. Real-time fluorescence used to detect 2019-nCoV nucleic acid in nasopharyngeal swabs of all close contacts, and colloidal gold method used to detect serum specific antibodies. Levels of IgM and IgG specific antibodies were detected quantitatively through chemiluminescence from the first nucleic acid negative date (0 wk) within weekly periods of:1, 1-2, 2-3, and 6-7 weeks. Results:The total positive rate of the colloidal gold method (88.5%,23/26) was significantly higher (χ2=59.182,P< 0.001) than that of the healthy control group (2.0%, 1/50). There was significant difference in IgG concentration at different time points (0-7week) after nucleic acid turned negative (χ2=14.034,P=0.029). Serum IgG levels were significantly higher within weekly timepoints 4-5 wk(Z=-2.399, P=0.016), 5-6 wk(Z=-2.049,P=0.040), and 6-7 wk(Z=-2.197,P=0.028), compared to 1-2 wk after nucleic acid negative conversion. However, there was no significant difference (χ2=4.936,P=0.552) in IgM concentration between timepoints tested (0-7 weeks) after nucleic acid conversion. The positive rates of IgM and IgG in asymptomatic patients (χ2=84.660,P<0.001) were significantly higher than the controls (χ2=9.201,P=0.002) within 7 weeks of nucleic acid negative conversion. Conclusions: The IgG concentration in asymptomatic cases remained at a high level after nucleic acid turned negative. Nucleic acid combined with IgM and IgG antibody detection is a more effective way to screen asymptomatic infections.