May 11, 2020

Prolonged Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Body Fluids

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Clinical Characteristics and Health Care Setting

• Sun et al prospectively assessed 49 coronavirus disease cases in Guangdong, China, to estimate the frequency and duration of detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA in human body fluids. The estimated time to clearance of viral RNA ranged from 45.6 days for nasopharyngeal swab to 46.3 days for feces samples in mild cases; and from 48.9 days for nasopharyngeal swab samples to 49.4 days for feces samples in severe cases. These are longer clearance times than has been reported for patients with SARS-CoV or MERS-CoV infections. 

Sun et al. (May 8, 2020). Prolonged Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Body Fluids. Emerging Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2608.201097