Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

June 15, 2020

Persistent Viral RNA Shedding after COVID‐19 Symptom Resolution in Older Convalescent Plasma Donors

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  • Hartman et al. re-tested 86 patients within 28 days after self-reported symptom resolution to investigate SARS-CoV-2 clearance. They found persistent viral shedding in 11/86 (13%) participants at a median of 19 days (range 12-24 days) after symptom resolution. Participants with persistent shedding were significantly older (mean age 54 years vs. 42 years) and older people were more likely to have higher viral concentrations.  
  • These results may have implications for convalescent plasma donors, who may return to clinical facilities within 28 days after symptom resolution if viral shedding indicates infectiousness. 

Hartman et al. (June 13, 2020). Persistent Viral RNA Shedding after COVID‐19 Symptom Resolution in Older Convalescent Plasma Donors. Transfusion. https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.15927