Authors: by Study Finds AUGUST 15, 2021

CAMBRIDGE, England — A simple blood test for long COVID is on the horizon. Biological “fingerprints” can identify individuals with the debilitating syndrome, according to new research. This opens the door to the first accurate diagnosis of the mysterious condition. Sufferers complain it is hard to convince doctors of their disease.

Long COVID is an umbrella term for symptoms of the virus lasting more than 12 weeks. They range from fatigue, headaches, and breathlessness to fever and tummy pain. At least one fourth of patients have developed some form of long COVID, per research out of the University of California, Davis.

“We need a reliable and objective way of saying whether someone has had COVID-19,” says study co-leader Dr. Mark Wills of the University of Cambridge. “Antibodies are one sign we look for. But not everyone makes a very strong response and this can wane over time and become undetectable.”

The new technique is based on chemicals called cytokines that control blood cells. When released, the tiny proteins trigger the immune system’s T-cells to fight foreign invaders.

“We’ve identified a cytokine that is also produced in response to infection by T-cells and is likely to be detectable for several months — and potentially years — following infection,” adds Wills. “We believe this will help us develop a much more reliable diagnostic for those individuals who did not get a diagnosis at the time of infection.”

The discovery could revolutionize treatment by complementing existing antibody tests and identifying vulnerable individuals. It builds on a pilot study of 85 patients from the Long COVID Clinic at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. Blood samples were collected at the time of diagnosis and follow-up intervals over several months. Analyses identified a molecule known as a cytokine produced by T-cells in response to infection.

For More Information: https://www.studyfinds.org/long-covid-blood-test/