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Research Article
Laurent Andreoletti
CHU Reims, Hôpital Robert Debré
Corresponding Author
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Differential kinetics of RNA loads and infectious viral levels in the upper respiratory tract between asymptomatic and symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected adult outpatients remain unclear limiting recommendations that may guide clinical management, infection control measures and occupational health decisions. In the present investigation, 496 (2.5%) of 17,911 French adult outpatients were positive for an upper respiratory tract SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection by a quantitative RT-PCR assay, of which 180 (36.3%) were COVID-19 asymptomatic. Of these adult asymptomatic viral shedders, 84.4% had mean to high RNA viral loads (Ct values<30) which median value was significantly higher than that observed in symptomatic subjects (P=0.029), and 50.6% were positive by cell culture assays of their upper respiratory tract specimens. Our findings indicate that COVID-19 asymptomatic adult outpatients are significant viable SARS-CoV-2 shedders in their upper respiratory tract playing a major potential role as SARS-CoV-2 transmitters in various epidemiological transmission chains, promoting COVID-19 resurgence in populations.
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2 RNA, COVID-19, adult outpatients, SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR, SARS-CoV-2 Infectious shedders, culture assays
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No competing interests reported.
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This preprint is under consideration at Scientific Reports. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research Article
Laurent Andreoletti
CHU Reims, Hôpital Robert Debré
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 21 Apr, 2021
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 20 Aug, 2021
Reviews received
Received 19 Aug, 2021
Reviewers agreed
On 03 Aug, 2021
Reviews received
Received 30 May, 2021
Reviewers agreed
On 30 May, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 24 May, 2021
Editor assigned
On 23 May, 2021
Editor invited
On 20 Apr, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 20 Apr, 2021
First submitted
On 09 Apr, 2021
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Differential kinetics of RNA loads and infectious viral levels in the upper respiratory tract between asymptomatic and symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected adult outpatients remain unclear limiting recommendations that may guide clinical management, infection control measures and occupational health decisions. In the present investigation, 496 (2.5%) of 17,911 French adult outpatients were positive for an upper respiratory tract SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection by a quantitative RT-PCR assay, of which 180 (36.3%) were COVID-19 asymptomatic. Of these adult asymptomatic viral shedders, 84.4% had mean to high RNA viral loads (Ct values<30) which median value was significantly higher than that observed in symptomatic subjects (P=0.029), and 50.6% were positive by cell culture assays of their upper respiratory tract specimens. Our findings indicate that COVID-19 asymptomatic adult outpatients are significant viable SARS-CoV-2 shedders in their upper respiratory tract playing a major potential role as SARS-CoV-2 transmitters in various epidemiological transmission chains, promoting COVID-19 resurgence in populations.
Figure 1
Figure 2
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