Abstract
BackgroundCOVID-19 has caused a global pandemic and the death toll is increasing. However, there is no definitive information regarding the type of clinical specimens that is the best for SARS-CoV-2 detection, the antibody levels in patients with different duration of disease, and the relationship between antibody level and viral load.MethodsNasopharyngeal swabs, anal swabs, saliva, blood, and urine specimens were collected from patients with a course of disease ranging from 7 to 69 days. Viral load in different specimen types was measured using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Meanwhile, anti-nucleocapsid protein (anti-N) IgM and IgG antibodies and anti-spike protein receptor-binding domain (anti-S-RBD) IgG antibody in all serum samples were tested using ELISA.ResultsThe positive detection rate in nasopharyngeal swab was the highest (54.05%), followed by anal swab (24.32%), and the positive detection rate in saliva, blood, and urine was 16.22%, 10.81%, and 5.41%, respectively. However, some patients with negative nasopharyngeal swabs had other specimens tested positive. There was no significant correlation between antibody level and days after symptoms onset or viral load.ConclusionsOther specimens could be positive in patients with negative nasopharyngeal swabs, suggesting that for patients in the recovery period, specimens other than nasopharyngeal swabs should also be tested to avoid false negative results, and anal swabs are recommended. The antibody level had no correlation with days after symptoms onset or the viral load of nasopharyngeal swabs, suggesting that the antibody level may also be affected by other factors.
Highlights
COVID-19 has caused a global pandemic and the death toll is increasing
World Health Organization (WHO) named the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has rapidly expanded across the
Studies have found that SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid could be detected in nasopharyngeal swabs, sputum, saliva, blood, urine, and anal swabs/feces of COVID-19 patients [4], and the positive detection rate of sputum was the highest, followed by nasopharyngeal swabs [5]
Summary
COVID-19 has caused a global pandemic and the death toll is increasing. there is no definitive information regarding the type of clinical specimens that is the best for SARS-CoV-2 detection, the antibody levels in patients with different duration of disease, and the relationship between antibody level and viral load. SARS-CoV-2 can cause asymptomatic infections, mild self-limiting respiratory diseases, and severe progressive pneumonia (resulting in shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute heart injury, acute kidney injury, and death) [1, 2]. World Health Organization (WHO) named the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has rapidly expanded across the. Studies have found that SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid could be detected in nasopharyngeal swabs, sputum, saliva, blood, urine, and anal swabs/feces of COVID-19 patients [4], and the positive detection rate of sputum was the highest, followed by nasopharyngeal swabs [5]. Further research is needed to establish which specimen types are most suitable for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection
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