While a large percentage of people who get COVID-19 have mild cases, a small percentage go on to have very serious cases that require ICU care, ventilator support, or even lead to death. A new study out of China has discovered three biomarkers that identify how sick you will likely become if you catch this coronavirus.

The scientists found that three markers – LDH, lymphocytes and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein – predict the mortality of patients more than 10 days in advance with more than 90 percent accuracy.

If these results are validated with further studies, they could be a huge breakthrough for hospitals. With resources already stretched thin, these simple blood tests could tell doctors which patients need to be prioritized, allowing them to more rapidly start treatments that could help these patients recover.