Table 4.
COVID-19 nasal swab Ct values and percent reduction from baseline specimen after CTL infusion
| Interventional patient | Pre-CTL baseline |
Day +4 |
Day +7 |
Day +10∗ |
Day +14 |
|||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target 1 (E) |
Target 2 (ORF1a) |
Target 1 (E) |
Target 2 (ORF1a) |
Target 1 (E) |
Target 2 (ORF1a) |
Target 1 (E) |
Target 2 (ORF1a) |
Target 1 (E) |
Target 2 (ORF1a) |
|||||||||
| Ct | Ct | Ct | % Red | Ct | % Red | Ct | % Red | Ct | % Red | Ct | % Red | Ct | % Red | Ct | % Red | Ct | % Red | |
| 1 | 23.18 | 24.11 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 |
| 2 | 20.16 | 20.54 | 28.18 | 99.61 | 28.65 | 99.64 | 27.58 | 99.42 | 27.77 | 99.33 | 20.41 | 15.91 | 20.91 | 22.62 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 |
| 3 | 29.39 | 29.91 | 32.41 | 87.67 | 33.21 | 89.85 | 31.3 | 73.39 | 32.82 | 86.70 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 |
| 4 | 19.58 | 19.86 | 25.36 | 98.18 | 25.96 | 98.54 | 33.02 | 99.99 | 34.98 | 99.99 | 33.34 | 99.99 | 36.02 | 99.99 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 |
| 5 | 24.5 | 24.88 | 20.43 | −1579 | 20.71 | −1700 | 22.63 | −265 | 23.04 | −258 | ND | ND | 31.74 | 99.34 | 32.76 | 99.58 | ||
| 6 | 30.64 | 32.7 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 |
| 7 | 18.96 | 19.18 | 28.35 | 99.85 | 28.45 | 99.84 | 33.4 | 99.99 | 34.1 | 99.99 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 |
| 8 | 20.01 | 20.11 | 25.29 | 97.43 | 25.29 | 97.24 | 29.65 | 99.87 | 29.86 | 99.88 | 31.67 | 99.97 | 32.6 | 99.98 | 27.51 | 99.45 | 27.73 | 99.49 |
| 9 | 23.92 | 19.3 | 27.56 | 91.98 | 24.13 | 96.48 | 34.03 | 99.91 | 31.79 | 99.98 | NLP | 100 | 37.02 | 99.99 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 |
| 10 | 15.63 | 15.74 | 27.14 | 99.97 | 27.21 | 99.96 | 27.53 | 99.97 | 27.7 | 99.97 | ND | ND | ND | ND | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 |
| 11 | 20.47 | 20.48 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | TNR | TNR | TNR | TNR | TNR | TNR | TNR | TNR | TNR | TNR | TNR | TNR |
| 12 | 22.2 | 22.17 | 30.08 | 99.58 | 30.2 | 99.62 | 36.91 | 99.99 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | NLP | 100 | TNR | TNR | TNR | TNR |
To determine viral load reduction for each patient, the difference in Ct on each follow-up day from day 0 baseline was determined. Next, the percentage of SARS-CoV-2 burden remaining was calculated by converting the exponent difference to a percentage (ie, 2 to the power of the difference between baseline and remaining). If it took 1 more cycle, 50% of the viral burden would be left; if 2 more cycles, 25 %; 3 cycles, 12.5%, etc. Finally, we converted the percentage remaining to a percentage eliminated by subtracting the percentage remaining from 100%. Each patient in this way was compared with their original Ct (ie, their initial burden).
% Red, Percentage of reduction in viral load from baseline sample; ND, not done; NLP, No longer positive; TNR, testing was not repeated because the patient had previously achieved PCR negativity.
The day +10 testing was not mandatory but was obtained in most patients. PCR testing could be stopped once a negative specimen was obtained. Patients 2 and 3 became PCR negative after treatment for bacterial sinus infection. Patient 2 reported resolution of maxillary sinus pressure at the time her PCR data rebounded, potentially because of opening of a reservoir of virus in her maxillary sinus mucous, which was secluded from CTLs. Patients 5, 8, and 9 were under treatment for lymphoma at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis.