HEMATOLOGIC PARAMETERS AS POTENTIAL DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS FOR COVID-19 IN EMERGENCY SETTING

Currently, the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test is the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19. However, real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction requires a long turnaround time, expensive equipment, specialized laboratory, and trained personnel. Thus, accessible, fast, and accurate tests are needed, especially in emergency settings. This study aims to evaluate roles and cut off points in hematological parameters for COVID-19 screening in emergency settings. We retrospectively evaluated hematological features in 250 patients who have visited the emergency department with suspect COVID-19 infection. Hematological parameters were compared in patients with positive and negative COVID-19 group. Receiver operating characteristic curves were made to determine significant hematological parameter cutoff point for diagnosing COVID-19 patients. Comparisons between positive and negative COVID-19 groups revealed there was no statistical significant difference (p>0.05) between test groups regarding eosinophil, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, thrombocytes, red blood cell distribution width, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, sodium, potassium, calcium, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Significant differences (p = 17.6 (area under curve: 0.721;p=0.000;95% confidence interval: 0.656-0.785). Blood test analysis might be used as a screening method for COVID-19 using certain hematological parameters. It is instrumental in the emergency department, which needs a fast screening method.