Why Can’t We Test for Long COVID? Unraveling the Diagnostic Puzzle

Of 25 routine clinical lab tests, not one can aid in diagnosing post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (Long COVID).

Over 10,000 participants were analyzed in a study to explore Long COVID’s clinical markers and health implications. Results indicated no effective laboratory markers for PASC, but suggested connections between prior SARS-CoV-2 infections, heightened diabetes risk, and early signs of kidney disease.

A national cohort study of adult participants with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection found that there are no objective tests to accurately diagnose post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), also known as Long COVID. Data also suggested that many of the long-term PASC symptoms are due to ongoing inflammation, rather than viral invasion of the affected area. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.