Comparative Evaluation of ELISA and Real-time PCR Tests to Detect COVID-19

Considering the wide spread of covid-19 and its high death rate, it is very important to find a sensitive and accurate diagnostic method. Thus, this study compared two main diagnostic approaches; PCR and ELISA, to detect COVID-19.

Fifty patients admitted to Baghiyatalah Hospital were examined to detect COVID-19 RNA by Real-time PCR method, as well as for the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies by ELISA method. The results were statistically analysed by SPSS software.

The mean age of patients is 38.4 years old. The percentage of positive cases of COVID-19 in the studied patients according to PCR and ELISA tests was 66% and 70%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between positive cases of COVID-19 detected by PCR and ELISA with emerging fever, weakness, and lethargy . The diagnostic value of ELISA versus PCR showed that the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and true positive rate were 100%, 88.2%, 8.5, and 94.29%, respectively.

Although the sensitivity of detection in Real-time PCR is higher than that in ELISA, there is a high agreement between the two methods when used for diagnosis of COVID-19.