biostudies-literatureMellis AMNational Center for Advancing Translational SciencesNCATS NIH HHSCenters for Disease Control and PreventionNational Institute for Allergy and Infectious DiseasesNIAID NIH HHSNCIRD CDC HHSCDC HHS1699-1703https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9129201biostudies-literatureUnknown226(10)We used daily real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results from 67 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a household transmission study, conducted April 2020-May 2021, to examine the trajectory of cycle threshold (Ct) values, an inverse correlate of viral RNA concentration. Ct values varied across RT-PCR platforms and by participant age. Specimens collected from children and adolescents had higher Ct values and adults aged ≥50 years showed lower Ct values than adults aged 18-49 years. Ct values were lower on days when participants reported experiencing symptoms, with the lowest Ct value occurring 2-6 days after symptom onset.The Journal of infectious diseasesSARS-CoV-2 Virus Dynamics in Recently Infected People-Data From a Household Transmission Study.PMC9129201U01 IP001078K24 AI148459UL1 TR002243-03IP001078IP001083Halasa NBGrijalva CGIvacic LCKim AZhu YDeyoe JChappell JDTalbot HKMcLean HQRolfes MAHanson KEMeece JKReed CMellis AMfalseSARS-CoV-2 Virus Dynamics in Recently Infected People-Data From a Household Transmission Study.We used daily real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results from 67 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a household transmission study, conducted April 2020-May 2021, to examine the trajectory of cycle threshold (Ct) values, an inverse correlate of viral RNA concentration. Ct values varied across RT-PCR platforms and by participant age. Specimens collected from children and adolescents had higher Ct values and adults aged ≥50 years showed lower Ct values than adults aged 18-49 years. Ct values were lower on days when participants reported experiencing symptoms, with the lowest Ct value occurring 2-6 days after symptom onset.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov2025-04-19T22:12:35.913Z2025-02-19T03:58:28.367ZS-EPMC91292013551233410.1093/infdis/jiac180