MATERIALS AND METHODS
Retrospective study was conducted between July 2020 to September 2020 at Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati, Assam, India. Medical records of the childhood cancer patients were analyzed. All patients who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 were collected. All childhood cancer patients with age group between one year to eighteen years were included and patients with cancer below one year and above eighteen years of age were excluded from study. All cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy cancer treatment were only included in the study.
Following set of variables / information were assessed such as age, gender, diagnosis, cancer treatment undergoing before covid-19, indication of testing, laboratory parameters, treatment details (regarding antibiotics, antifungals and steroids), patient status. Routine hematological and biochemistry test required for childhood cancer patients were performed.
The study protocol was approved by institutional ethical committee.
RT-PCR COVID-19 Testing
Nasopharyngeal, Oropharyngeal swab specimens were collected in Viral transport medium. Total viral RNA extraction was done using Viral RNA mini kit (Qiagen, USA) as per manufacturer instruction. SARS-CoV2 RNA detection in patient specimen was performed on CFX96 Real Time PCR system (Bio-Rad, USA) in one tube RT-PCR protocol as per manufacturer’s instruction (Meril Life Sciences, India). Target confirmatory genes for SARS-CoV2 were ORF1ab gene, Nucleoprotein N gene. RNaseP gene was used an internal control for RNA quality. Specimen with Ct value ≥35 for both ORF1ab gene, Nucleoprotein N gene were only considered positive. All specimen had RNaseP amplification with Ct value ≥35.
Statistical Analysis
Statistical analysis of data was done in Graphpad prism software ver 9.0. The prevalence of SARS-CoV2 infection in test groups were tested using a Fisher’s exact test. Statistical significance was considered for P-value of ≤0.05.