PCR testing for COVID-19 in Health Center Zagreb-Center in year 2020: overview of testing criteria and results

Abstract

Goal: Analyze the results of PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 performed during the pandemic of COVID-19 in Croatia, from April 9, 2020, at the Health Center Zagreb-Center, based on heteroanamnestic data of the epidemiological history and symptoms due to which the suspicion of COVID-19 infection was made, and which were given by family physicians or patients. Materials and methods: Data on epidemiological history and symptoms related to possible COVID-19 disease were requested when ordering patients for testing. The presented data were divided into individual claims, and marked with “YES” if they were true for the patient. The obtained information was processed by methods of descriptive statistics. Results: The most common symptom mentioned in ordering SARS-CoV-2 PCR test was fever, defined by a body temperature above 37.2° C (reported in the total of 78.79% cases, in 84.08% of positive, and in 74.97% of negative). The second most common symptom was cough (32.88%, 32.41%, 33.22%, respectively), followed by general symptoms such as malaise and weakness (22.81%, 21.82%, 23.53%, respectively), and headache. In more than 60% of cases anosmia, a loss of the sense of taste and smell, was registered with a positive SARS-CoV-2 finding. Less than 5% of positive patients had gastrointestinal symptoms, and catarrhal symptoms, of which cough and sore throat have been singled out, were registered in less than 10% of positive patients. Conclusions: The reasons for referral for PCR testing ranged depending on the guidelines of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, new medical knowledge, and the flow of information through the media. The family physician, in compliance with the guidelines, has always used the principles of person-centered care in clinical judgment.

Keywords

• covid-19 – diagnosis