Utility of Routine Laboratory Biomarkers to Detect COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Meta-analysis published in Viruses (2021)
Abstract
No routine laboratory biomarkers perform well enough in diagnosing COVID-19 in isolation for them to be used as a standalone diagnostic test or to help clinicians prioritize patients for treatment. Instead, other diagnostic tests are needed. The aim of this work was to statistically summarise routine laboratory biomarker measurements in COVID-19-positive and -negative patients to inform future work. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed. The search included names of commonly used, routine laboratory tests in the UK NHS, and focused on research papers reporting laboratory results of patients diagnosed with COVID-19. A random effects meta-analysis of the standardized mean difference between COVID-19-positive and -negative groups was conducted for each biomarker. When comparing reported laboratory biomarker results, we identified decreased white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, eosinophil, and platelet counts; while lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase were elevated in COVID-19-positive compared to COVID-19-negative patients. Differences were identified across a number of routine laboratory biomarkers between COVID-19-positive and -negative patients. Further research is required to identify whether routine laboratory biomarkers can be used in the development of a clinical scoring system to aid with triage of patients.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
No routine laboratory biomarkers perform well enough in diagnosing COVID-19 in isolation for them to be used as a standalone diagnostic test or to help clinicians prioritize patients for treatment.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Esta revisión sistemática y metaanálisis evaluó biomarcadores de laboratorio rutinarios para distinguir entre pacientes COVID-19 positivos y negativos, analizando diferencias de medias estandarizadas entre múltiples análisis de sangre comunes utilizados en el NHS del Reino Unido. El estudio encontró que los pacientes COVID-19 positivos presentaban recuentos disminuidos de leucocitos, neutrófilos, linfocitos, eosinófilos y plaquetas, junto con elevación de lactato deshidrogenasa, aspartato aminotransferasa y alanina aminotransferasa en comparación con los pacientes negativos. Este estudio no tiene relevancia para la hirudoterapia, el secretoma de la sanguijuela ni los terapéuticos derivados de la sanguijuela. Se refiere al rendimiento de biomarcadores diagnósticos en enfermedades infecciosas y no aborda ninguna intervención relacionada con sanguijuelas, mecanismo anticoagulante ni aplicación en la cicatrización de heridas.
Citación
Utility of Routine Laboratory Biomarkers to Detect COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Suklan J et al. · Viruses, 2021
Contexto clínico relacionado
Explore cómo esta investigación se conecta con la práctica clínica
Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026