The Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation conducted a COVID-19 Research Program that affirmed the possibility of using the ELISA test to detect positive cases of COVID-19 patients who do not show the symptoms of the disease.

The study, titled ‘Detection of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Oman using ELISA test’ was conducted by researcher Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Balushi, Specialist in Infectious Diseases.

Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Balushi, Specialist in Infectious Diseases

The study indicates why some patients develop severe illness while others do not.

It saw the participation of a number of specialized institutions, including the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, the Ministry of Health, the Royal Hospital, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in the United Kingdom.

The team in charge of the research visited houses of confirmed COVID-19 patients, with the prime aim of detecting early asymptomatic or mild symptomatic contacts of COVID-19.

It used an antibody test called ‘ELISA’, in addition to the accredited PCR test through nasal and throat swabs.

The research team also collected blood samples from confirmed mild cases of patients who did not require hospitalization and compared these samples with samples from hospitalized patients who showed more severe symptoms.

Different inflammatory markers have been studied to know which markers are correlated with the disease’s severity in COVID-19 patients. Genetic testing of the human genome, especially ACE-2 genome, was also performed.

According to Dr. Al Balushi, the most important finding of this research project is that ELISA tests and PCR testing can be used to detect patients who do not show any symptoms of the virus.

Some patients show the symptoms only after two or three days, while others remained asymptomatic. The finding is very important because it increases public awareness and enhances early recognition of COVID-19 cases.

Al Balushi added that the project helped recognize patients whose conditions might deteriorate earlier.

The project highlights the significance of performing special blood tests and inflammatory markers that reflect the immune system’s response to fight the virus.

The project will also help ease the pressure on intensive care units and might even prevent death.

The findings of this study can help specialists in formalizing the guidelines for doctors taking care of COVID-19 patients.