Fig. 1. The clearance of NCP antigen is delayed in ICU patients
Antigen concentration of systemic NCP in patient sera was measured by
ELISA (see Supplementary Methods). Samples were grouped based on ICU
admission. (A) NCP concentration at indicated days after positive
SARS-CoV-2 PCR. (B) Samples were grouped into those collected before or
after 8 days since COVID-19 diagnosis. ICU and non-ICU patients
exhibited high NCP levels in the early phase of COVID-19 infection. NCP
antigenemia remained significantly higher in ICU compared to non-ICU
patients after 8 days since diagnosis. Means ± SD. ** p<0.01;
ns=not significant by t test.