We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
INTEGRA BIOSCIENCES AG

THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC

Thermo Fisher Scientific provides analytical instruments, lab equipment, specialty diagnostics, reagents and integrat... read more Featured Products: More products

Download Mobile App





Blood Test Identifies Stillbirth, Placentitis in Women with COVID-19

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 06 Apr 2022
Print article
Image: CloneJET PCR Cloning Kit is an advanced positive selection system for high-efficiency cloning of PCR products generated with any thermostable DNA polymerase (Photo courtesy of ThermoFisher Scientific)
Image: CloneJET PCR Cloning Kit is an advanced positive selection system for high-efficiency cloning of PCR products generated with any thermostable DNA polymerase (Photo courtesy of ThermoFisher Scientific)

Recent reports have identified an increased risk of stillbirth in pregnant people infected with SARS-CoV-2. Perinatal pathologists have identified specific placental pathology, termed COVID placentitis, associated with a high risk of stillbirth and poor neonatal outcome.

COVID placentitis, characterized by histiocytic intervillositis, increased perivillous fibrin deposition, and villous trophoblast necrosis, has been associated with direct viral infection of the syncytiotrophoblast layer of the placenta. A blood test may identify pregnant women with COVID-19 who are at higher risk for stillbirth and placentitis.

Clinical Scientists at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (Chicago, IL, USA) and their colleagues identified six patients diagnosed with COVID placentitis on pathologic examination and with maternal plasma samples collected and 12 matched controls that had SARS-CoV-2 infection without COVID placentitis. The control cases were matched for gestational age at birth and time between SARS-CoV-2 infection and delivery.

COVID placentitis was diagnosed based on the presence of histiocytic intervillositis confirmed with immunohistochemical staining for CD68 and increased perivillous fibrin deposition in the context of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection. The percentage of villous parenchyma involved was estimated using both gross and microscopic evidence of involvement. Viral RNA was extracted from clinical specimens utilizing the QIAamp Viral RNA Minikit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). Testing for SARS-CoV-2 presence was performed by qRT-PCR with the CDC 2019-nCoV RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel utilizing the N1 probe in SARS-CoV-2 and RNASE P probe for sample quality control. All replicates were amplified and on-target amplification was verified by TOPO cloning (CloneJET PCR Cloning Kit, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) and Sanger sequencing of the N1 qPCR product.

The investigators reported that among the patients with placentitis, one had asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, four had mild infections and one had moderate infection. There was one stillbirth in the placentitis group. Two women with placentitis were viremic, including the patient who had a stillbirth, while viremia was not detected in the group without placentitis. Cloning and Sanger sequencing of the qRT-PCR products confirmed specific on-target amplification of SARS-CoV-2 in two samples.

Leena B. Mithal, MD, an assistant professor of pediatric infectious diseases and the lead author of the study, said, “Right now, we don’t know if there’s placentitis until after delivery. We’re laying groundwork for further studies so that in the future, people who are diagnosed with COVID during pregnancy may be able to get a test that will help identify pregnancies that may be at higher risk of stillbirth or fetal distress.” The study was published in the April, 2022 issue of the journal Placenta.

Related Links:
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine 
Qiagen 
ThermoFisher Scientific 

Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Specimen Collection & Transport
Complement 3 (C3) Test
GPP-100 C3 Kit
New
Gold Member
SARS-CoV-2 Reactive & Non-Reactive Controls
Qnostics SARS-CoV-2 Typing

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: MOF materials efficiently enrich cfDNA and cfRNA in blood through simple operational process (Photo courtesy of Science China Press)

Blood Circulating Nucleic Acid Enrichment Technique Enables Non-Invasive Liver Cancer Diagnosis

The ability to diagnose diseases early can significantly enhance the effectiveness of clinical treatments and improve survival rates. One promising approach for non-invasive early diagnosis is the use... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The low-cost portable device rapidly identifies chemotherapy patients at risk of sepsis (Photo courtesy of 52North Health)

POC Finger-Prick Blood Test Determines Risk of Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections), is a frequent side effect of certain cancer treatments. This condition elevates the risk of infections,... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The OvaCis Rapid Test discriminates benign from malignant epithelial ovarian cysts (Photo courtesy of INEX)

Intra-Operative POC Device Distinguishes Between Benign and Malignant Ovarian Cysts within 15 Minutes

Ovarian cysts represent a significant health issue for women globally, with up to 10% experiencing this condition at some point in their lives. These cysts form when fluid collects within a thin membrane... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.