Duration of infectiousness and correlation with RT-PCR cycle threshold values in cases of COVID-19, England, January to May 2020 #MMPMID32794447
Singanayagam A; Patel M; Charlett A; Lopez Bernal J; Saliba V; Ellis J; Ladhani S; Zambon M; Gopal R
Euro Surveill 2020[Aug]; 25 (32): ? PMID32794447show ga
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 viral load in the upper respiratory tract peaks around symptom onset and infectious virus persists for 10 days in mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease (n?=?324 samples analysed). RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values correlate strongly with cultivable virus. Probability of culturing virus declines to 8% in samples with Ct > 35 and to 6% 10 days after onset; it is similar in asymptomatic and symptomatic persons. Asymptomatic persons represent a source of transmissible virus.