Population-level median cycle threshold (Ct) values for asymptomatic COVID-19 cases can predict the trajectory of future cases.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent studies indicate that the population-level SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold (Ct) values can inform the trajectory of the pandemic. The presented study investigates the potential of Ct values in predicting the future of COVID-19 cases. We also determined whether the presence of symptoms could change the correlation between Ct values and future cases.

Methods

We examined the individuals (n = 8660) that consulted different sample collection points of a private diagnostic center in Pakistan for COVID-19 testing between June 2020 and December 2021. The medical assistant collected clinical and demographic information. The nasopharyngeal swab specimens were taken from the study participants and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used

SUBMITTER: Shoaib N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9997994 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature