tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Transfusion
. 2020 Jun 13.
doi: 10.1111/trf.15927. Online ahead of print.
Persistent Viral RNA Shedding After COVID-19 Symptom Resolution in Older Convalescent Plasma Donors
William R Hartman[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Aaron S Hess[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Joseph Connor[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Introduction: The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is responsible for a world-wide pandemic. While the medical community understands the mode of viral transmission, less is known about how long viral shedding occurs once viral symptoms have resolved. Our objective was to determine how long the SARS-CoV-2 remains detectable following self-reporting of viral symptom resolution.
Methods: This study was approved by the University of Wisconsin Institutional Review Board. A cohort of previously SARS-CoV-2 positive patients less than 28 days after self-reported symptom resolution were re-tested for proof of viral recovery by nasal swab rtPCR for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
Results: 152 potential participants were screened, of which 5 declined, 54 were ineligible, and 93 were recruited; 86 of 93 completed testing. 11/86 (13%) were still positive at a median of 19 days (range 12-24 days) after symptom resolution. Positive participants were significantly older than negative participants (mean 54 years; 95% CI 44, 63 vs. 42 years; 95% CI 38, 46; p = 0.024). C[SUB]T[/SUB] values were significantly, inversely associated with age (β = -0.04, r[SUP]2[/SUP] = 0.389, p=0.04). The number of days since symptom recovery was not apparently different between positive and negative participants.
Conclusion: We found evidence of persistent viral shedding in nasopharyngeal secretions more than two weeks after resolution of symptoms from confirmed COVID-19 infection. Persistent shedding was more common in older participants, and viral load was higher in among older positive participants. These results underscore the necessity of testing COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors less than 28 days after symptom resolution.
. 2020 Jun 13.
doi: 10.1111/trf.15927. Online ahead of print.
Persistent Viral RNA Shedding After COVID-19 Symptom Resolution in Older Convalescent Plasma Donors
William R Hartman[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Aaron S Hess[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Joseph Connor[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32533556
- DOI: 10.1111/trf.15927
Abstract
Introduction: The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is responsible for a world-wide pandemic. While the medical community understands the mode of viral transmission, less is known about how long viral shedding occurs once viral symptoms have resolved. Our objective was to determine how long the SARS-CoV-2 remains detectable following self-reporting of viral symptom resolution.
Methods: This study was approved by the University of Wisconsin Institutional Review Board. A cohort of previously SARS-CoV-2 positive patients less than 28 days after self-reported symptom resolution were re-tested for proof of viral recovery by nasal swab rtPCR for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
Results: 152 potential participants were screened, of which 5 declined, 54 were ineligible, and 93 were recruited; 86 of 93 completed testing. 11/86 (13%) were still positive at a median of 19 days (range 12-24 days) after symptom resolution. Positive participants were significantly older than negative participants (mean 54 years; 95% CI 44, 63 vs. 42 years; 95% CI 38, 46; p = 0.024). C[SUB]T[/SUB] values were significantly, inversely associated with age (β = -0.04, r[SUP]2[/SUP] = 0.389, p=0.04). The number of days since symptom recovery was not apparently different between positive and negative participants.
Conclusion: We found evidence of persistent viral shedding in nasopharyngeal secretions more than two weeks after resolution of symptoms from confirmed COVID-19 infection. Persistent shedding was more common in older participants, and viral load was higher in among older positive participants. These results underscore the necessity of testing COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors less than 28 days after symptom resolution.