Cross-sectional cycle threshold values reflect epidemic dynamics of COVID-19 in Madagascar.

ABSTRACT: As the national reference laboratory for febrile illness in Madagascar, we processed samples from the first epidemic wave of COVID-19, between March and September 2020. We fit generalized additive models to cycle threshold (C_t) value data from our RT-qPCR platform, demonstrating a peak in high viral load, low-C_t value infections temporally coincident with peak epidemic growth rates estimated in real time from publicly-reported incidence data and retrospectively from our own laboratory testing data across three administrative regions. We additionally demonstrate a statistically significant effect of duration of time since infection onset on C_t value, suggesting that C_t value can be used as a biomarker of the stage at which an individual is sampled

SUBMITTER: Andriamandimby SF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8628610 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature