A laboratory-based study of COVID-19 in Casablanca, Morocco


Submitted: 3 June 2020
Accepted: 30 September 2020
Published: 31 December 2021
Abstract Views: 2130
PDF: 591
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Authors

  • Idrissa Diawara Department of Health Techniques, Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences; National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4122-2294
  • Houda Benrahma National Reference Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7523-2581
  • Nida Meskaouni National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco.
  • Jalila Rahoui National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2557-5949
  • Fatima-Zahra Moujid National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco.
  • Khadija Jaras National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco.
  • Rachid Benmessaoud National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco.
  • Khadija Arouro National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco.
  • Zahra Aadam National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco.
  • Salma Nahir National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco.
  • Zineb Aouzal National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco.
  • Hajar Elguazzar National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco.
  • Leila Jeddan National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8647-8114
  • Hind Rida National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco.
  • Fadoua Ousti National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco.
  • Jalila El Bakkouri National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2303-3369
  • Imane Smyej National Reference Laboratory, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco.
  • Chakib Nejjari International School of Public Health, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco.

Given the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its impact on human health, laboratory confirmation of diagnosis is essential. This study examined the contribution of laboratory diagnosis to the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the diagnosis of COVID-19, taking into account patient risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, clinical symptoms and comorbidities. A cross-sectional, laboratory-based study was carried out from 1 April 2020 to 30 April 2020 at the National Reference Laboratory in Morocco using nasopharyngeal samples from patients admitted to the Cheikh Khalifa International University Hospital or other hospitals in Casablanca. A one-step reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. A national epidemiological investigation form was used to analyze patient exposure risk, clinical symptoms and comorbidities. A total of 793 samples from 375 patients were analyzed and 1150 RT-PCR tests were conducted; 116 patients (30.93%) were COVID-19 positive. Travel to a risk zone, contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case and contact with a person who had been in a risk zone were significantly associated with being positive for COVID-19. Fever and cough were the main symptoms; 7.76 % of positive patients were asymptomatic. This is the first laboratory-based study in Morocco for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 by RTPCR associated with knowledge of exposure risk factors and clinical symptoms and comorbidities remains essential for clinicians for early, appropriate medical management COVID-19 patients.


Diawara, I., Benrahma, H., Meskaouni, N., Rahoui, J., Moujid, F.-Z., Jaras, K., Benmessaoud, R., Arouro, K., Aadam, Z., Nahir, S., Aouzal, Z., Elguazzar, H., Jeddan, L., Rida, H., Ousti, F., El Bakkouri, J., Smyej, I., & Nejjari, C. (2021). A laboratory-based study of COVID-19 in Casablanca, Morocco. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2021.1458

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