Dynamics of ORF1ab and N Gene among hospitalized COVID-19 positive cohorts: A hospital based retrospective study

1.ObjectiveThe present study hospital based retrospective study aimed at investigating the dynamics of ORF1ab and N gene from hospitalized COVID-19 positive cohorts considering the Ct values of both genes. Study design and MethodologyRetrospective analyses of Ct values were done from 115 hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients in different time interval. Patients were admitted to the hospital either by RAT or/and RT-PCR and first RT-PCR testing were made after 9 days of incubation followed by testing in every 3 days of interval till negative, subsequently release of the patients. ResultsWe have looked into the dynamics of ORF1ab and N gene and found that N gene require longer duration of days with 12.68 (S.D.{+/-}3.24) to become negative than ORF1ab with 12.09 (S.D.{+/-}2.88) days and it differs significantly (p=0.012; p<0.05). The persistent of N gene found in 46 patients out of 115 (39.65%) to the succeeding reading after 3 days. We have also looked into the mean differences in the between N and ORF1ab genes every readings separately and found that there were no significant differences between the mean Ct value of ORF1ab and N gene except in the day 3 (p=0.015; p<0.05). Further, we have looked into the relationship of age and gender of patients with the duration of positivity; however we did not find any significant role. ConclusionIn COVID-19 hospital positive cohorts, the persistent of positivity of N gene is significantly for more duration than ORF1ab. As the SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus and study on it is evolving, so, exhaustive study is required on the dynamic of N gene positivity persistent in relation to the other pathophysiological parameters for the management and control of COVID-19.