Abstract
Purpose of the study: PCR is the current standard test for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, due to its limitations, serological testing is considered an alternative method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 exposure. In this study, we measured the level of SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies of male professional football players and compared the results with the standard PCR test to investigate the association between the two tests.
Study design: Participants were male professional football players and team officials. Nasopharyngeal swabs and peripheral blood samples were collected for the PCR and serological tests, respectively. Also, previous records of COVID-19 testing and symptoms were gathered. Those with previous positive PCR tests who tested negative for the second time were considered to be recovered patients.
Results: Of the 1243 subjects, 222 (17.9%) were seropositive, while 29 (2.3%) tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 PCR test. Sixty percent of symptomatic cases with a negative PCR were found to be seropositive. The mean level of IgM was significantly higher in PCR-positive and symptomatic subjects, whereas the recovered cases showed significantly higher levels of IgG.
Conclusion: Our study revealed an inconsistency of results between the two tests; therefore, although application of serological assays alone seems insufficient in diagnosing COVID-19 disease, the findings are beneficial in the comprehension and the management of the disease.
Keywords: COVID-19; sports medicine.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, sports medicine., 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, IgG, IgM, SARS-COV-2 infection, Infection, Symptom, COVID-19 disease, Peripheral blood, COVID-19 testing, IgG antibody, PCR, Serological tests, Serological assay, Serological testing, IgG antibodies, serological assays, nasopharyngeal swabs, symptomatic, management, male, Swab, recovered patients, PCR test, serological, seropositive, SARS-CoV-2 IgM, association, alternative method, Sports Medicine, PCR-positive, positive PCR test, participant, symptomatic cases, Negative PCR, symptomatic case, peripheral blood samples, comprehension, diagnosing, positive, SARS-CoV-2 PCR test, inconsistency, limitations, tested, collected, the disease, subjects, significantly higher, diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, the SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Serological assay,