SARS-CoV-2 Virus Dynamics in Recently Infected People-Data From a Household Transmission Study.

Mellis, Alexandra M; Meece, Jennifer K; Halasa, Natasha B; Chappell, James D; McLean, Huong Q; Grijalva, Carlos G; Hanson, Kayla E; Zhu, Yuwei et al. · J Infect Dis · 2022

prospective_cohort · Level II

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Abstract

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.

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