May 13, 2020

Prolonged Viral RNA Shedding after COVID-19 Symptom Resolution in Older Convalescent Plasma Donors

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

• Re-testing of 86 previously SARS-CoV-2 positive patients from a Wisconsin tertiary care center after self-reported symptom resolution showed that 11 (13%) were still positive at a median of 19 days (range 12-24 days) after symptom resolution. Patients who re-tested positive were not significantly different from test-negative patients with respect to days since symptom recovery.  
• To the extent that detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA following the resolution of symptoms is indicative of potential infectiousness, screening for COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors may need to occur later than the currently recommended two weeks following “recovery.” 

Hess and Hartman. (May 12, 2020). Prolonged Viral RNA Shedding after COVID-19 Symptom Resolution in Older Convalescent Plasma Donors. Pre-print downloaded May 13 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.07.20090621