Review: Prolonged persistence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in body fluids

Home/Review: Prolonged persistence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in body fluids

Review: Prolonged persistence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in body fluids

Using an accelerated failure time-based modeling study, estimated median time virus RNA detection ranged from 15.6-24.5 days in mild COVID-19 cases to 30.9-33.9 days in severe cases. 

  • This was a prospective analysis of 49 coronavirus disease cases in Guangdong, China (mild cases, n=43; severe cases, n=6)
  • 480 specimens were included (nasopharyngeal, fecal, sputum, and throat), tested using rRT-PCR
  • The estimated time until complete loss of virus RNA detection ranged from 45.6 – 46.3 days in mild cases and from 48.9 – 49.4 days in severe cases
  • Limitations: Detection of RNA particles does not imply existence of infectious virus. A number of missing specimens was noted. May not be generalization to all infections with SARS-CoV-2, such as asymptomatic cases.
|2020-05-12T08:40:44-04:00May 11th, 2020|COVID-19 Literature|Comments Off on Review: Prolonged persistence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in body fluids

About the Author: Megan McHenry

Megan McHenry
Megan S. McHenry, MD, MS, FAAP is a pediatrician and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease and Global Health at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. McHenry's research focuses on early childhood development in children living in resource-limited settings. This work is frequently aligned with community-engaged research and dissemination and implementation science frameworks. She primarily conducts research in collaboration with the Academic Model for Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) Research Network in Kenya. Dr. McHenry currently has a career development award through the National Institutes of Health to develop a neurodevelopmental screening program for children born to HIV-infected mothers in Kenya. Dr. McHenry is also the Director of Pediatric Global Health Education and a co-Director of the Morris Green Physician-Scientist Development Program at Indiana University School of Medicine. In additional to global health lectures, she also educates residents and students on early childhood development, basic biostatistical techniques, research methodologies, and research ethics. She mentors multiple pediatric fellows, residents, and medical students interested in early childhood development within global contexts.

Get Involved with Indiana CTSI