Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the ocular surface in different phases of COVID-19 patients in Shanghai, China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To investigate the temporal pattern of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presence on ocular surfaces using conjunctival swabs in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Methods

This study included 59 patients (32 newly admitted and 27 hospitalized for ≥2 weeks) with a COVID-19-confirmed diagnosis at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center from March 3, 2020, to March 21, 2020. Conjunctival swab samples were collected from both eyes of all the 59 patients and were tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. The range of sampling time lies widely between 1 and 50 days since symptom onset.

Results

Among the 32 newly admitted patients, positive RT-PCR results for SARS-CoV-2 in conjunctival swab s

SUBMITTER: Li M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7867919 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature