This test is very fast using mini-NMR.

For example minispec NMR from Bruker, the scanning time is less than 1 min. using transverse relaxation time (T2)

I think we should start working on this study as soon as possible ...

Whilst NMR may identify some systemic changes in biofluids as a response to the Covid-19 virus, it is unlikely to progress specific mechanistic understanding. Thus a combination of NMR and MS would be a better approach.

From literature around SARs an MERs, it seems that both cytokine response and lipid transport would be important. There are several metabolic profiling laboratories that are investigating the metabolic response using these technologies including Rutgers and the Australian National Phenome Centre

https://www.murdoch.edu.au/research/institutes-centres/health-futures-institute/australian-national-phenome-centre/covid-19-critical-research-programme

If multiple centres undertake similar research, there would be substantial merit in creating a broader international database

NMR and MS are sensitive to detect changes in almost anything. The question is why you think that changes in biofluids will be SARS-CoV-2 specific and would not just be one more virus related signature.

Hi K.A. Rabaeh

Regarding tuberculosis patient identification. Do you know if are they distinguished by relaxation measurements?

Have a great day

For this kind of study to work, Specific biomarkers need to be discovered. One of the pathological outcomes of this infection is ARDS. If we could differentiate between the causal agents (Bacterial, Fungal and Viral) by NMR or MS analysis, We would only need to look for the biomarker signature for each of these. This method could serve for initial screening of population for COVID-19. In this way, RT-PCR and Antibody based Tests could be administered further to patients identified by NMR+ MS metabolomics method.

NMR metabolic profile can easily distinguish between healthy (control) and COVID-19 (disease) patients. First, we have to look NMR metabolic profile of a healthy person and then for COVID-19 infected person for comparison. As mentioned by Renuka Ranjan, will search specific & potential biomarkers that show remarkable changes in metabolite profiling during infection. We can combine the multivariate statistics (PCA, PLS-DA and OPLS-DA model) techniques with 1H NMR to distinguish between healthy and COVID-19 to create or visualize the model. One major problem with NMR metabolomics is metabolite concentrations vary with the timing within a condition, the intrinsic biology, the instruments, and the sample preparation. Metabolism changes with age, sex, and lifestyle.

Mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) are frequently used in metabolomics but additional analytical approaches have also been applied in metabolomic studies involving capillary electrophoresis (CE), Raman and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy. Also useful for COVID-19 patients.

MRI can give the best idea between a healthy and a damaged cell. MRI which is a type of NMR.

Bruzzone et al. (2020) employed NMR spectroscopy with multivariate analysis to discriminate pre-COVID and symptomatic patients hospitalized after positive PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection using serum metabolomic and lipidomic profile (Bruzzone et al., 2020: https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.isci.2020.101645).

Another study has reported that salivary NMR metabolomics is a promising, non-invasive tool for shedding light on how SARS-CoV-2 affects host metabolism and that it may provide valuable information regarding the pathophysiology of this disease (Costa dos Santos Junior et al., 2020: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04679).

Yes

NMR based metabolomics is well exquisite in defining the severity of the Covid-19 disease and further, it can be used for evaluating the response of therapeutic intervention i.e. monitoring the treatment response as metabolic profiles change significantly much before the protein profiles change...