Dataset Information

Duration of viral infectiousness and correlation with symptoms and diagnostic testing in non-hospitalized adults during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection: A longitudinal cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Guidelines for SARS-CoV-2 have relied on limited data on duration of viral infectiousness and correlation with COVID-19 symptoms and diagnostic testing.

Methods

We enrolled ambulatory adults with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and performed serial measurements of COVID-19 symptoms, nasal swab viral RNA, nucleocapsid (N) and spike (S) antigens, and replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 by viral growth in culture. We determined average time from symptom onset to a first negative test result and estimated risk of infectiousness, as defined by positive viral growth in culture.

Results

Among 95 adults, median [interquartile range] time from symptom onset to first negative test result was 9 [5] days, 13 [6] days, 11 [4] days, and >19 days for S antigen, N antigen, culture growth, and viral RNA by RT-PCR, respectively. Beyond two weeks, virus growth and N antigen titers were rarely positive, while viral RNA remained detectable among half (26/51) of participants tested 21-30 days after symptom onset. Between 6-10 days from symptom onset, N antigen was strongly associated with culture positivity (relative risk=7.61, 95% CI: 3.01-19.22), whereas neither viral RNA nor symptoms were associated with culture positivity. During the 14 days following symptom onset, the presence of N antigen remained strongly associated (adjusted relative risk=7.66, 95% CI: 3.96-14.82) with culture positivity, regardless of COVID-19 symptoms.

Conclusions

Most adults have replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 for 10-14 after symptom onset. N antigen testing is a strong predictor of viral infectiousness and may be a more suitable biomarker, rather than absence of symptoms or viral RNA, to discontinue isolation within two weeks from symptom onset.

SUBMITTER: Drain PK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9981266 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Duration of viral infectiousness and correlation with symptoms and diagnostic testing in non-hospitalized adults during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection: A longitudinal cohort study.

Drain Paul K PK Dalmat Ronit R RR Hao Linhui L Bemer Meagan J MJ Budiawan Elvira E Morton Jennifer F JF Ireton Renee C RC Hsiang Tien-Ying TY Marfatia Zarna Z Prabhu Roshni R Woosley Claire C Gichamo Adanech A Rechkina Elena E Hamilton Daphne D Montaño Michalina M Cantera Jason L JL Ball Alexey S AS Golez Inah I Smith Elise E Greninger Alexander L AL McElrath M Juliana MJ Thompson Matthew M Grant Benjamin D BD Meisner Allison A Gottlieb Geoffrey S GS Gale Michael M

Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology 20230303

<h4>Background</h4>Guidelines for SARS-CoV-2 have relied on limited data on duration of viral infectiousness and correlation with COVID-19 symptoms and diagnostic testing.<h4>Methods</h4>We enrolled ambulatory adults with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and performed serial measurements of COVID-19 symptoms, nasal swab viral RNA, nucleocapsid (N) and spike (S) antigens, and replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 by viral growth in culture. We determined average time from symptom onset to a first negative t ...[more]

PMID: 36913789

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Dataset Information

Duration of viral infectiousness and correlation with symptoms and diagnostic testing in non-hospitalized adults during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection: A longitudinal cohort study.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Duration of viral infectiousness and correlation with symptoms and diagnostic testing in non-hospitalized adults during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection: A longitudinal cohort study.

Similar Datasets

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