Chromatography Identifies Clinical Classifiers of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unparalleled challenges worldwide due to the variability in symptoms and rapid transmission. As the virus continues to surge across the U.S., there is an increasing demand for technologies that can help us better understand viruses like COVID-19 at a faster pace.

Recent studies show that chromatography plays a crucial role in identifying clinical classifiers of COVID-19 through both liquid and gas chromatography. A study published in MedRxiv demonstrates that using mass spectrometry proteomics in conjunction with liquid chromatography can pinpoint clinical classifiers, such as symptoms and severity, by analyzing blood and plasma serums at a high throughput rate. In this process, liquid chromatography is used to separate proteins from blood plasma samples, which are then analyzed for their relationship to symptoms and severity. This method is well-suited to meet the fast-paced demands of the current situation, as liquid chromatography offers high throughput, and most laboratories are already equipped to support mass spectrometry. With proper chromatography supplies, including the mentioned Agilent Zorbax HPLC Column, identification for COVID-19 classifiers can be quickly implemented to tackle the pandemic.

Respiratory diseases are a deadly force associated with COVID-19. In conjunction with The University of Michigan and Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, The United States Air Force has determined that gas chromatography can aid in the diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS, which is commonly developed as a result of COVID-19. In a test that mimics a breathalyzer tool, gas chromatography is used to separate the exhaled components of the patient's breath to then analyze and detect the chemical structure of ARDS within the components.

Liquid chromatography can provide crucial information on the diagnosis, symptoms, severity, and progression of COVID-19 at the increased rate we urgently need. Gas chromatography can also play an important role in identifying one of the deadliest symptoms of COVID-19 – ARDS. With chromatography's ability to classify clinical identifiers of COVID-19, this pandemic becomes a more stable, safe, and predictable fight.