Table 3.

WHO case definitions of SARS in the postoutbreak period ¹⁹

Clinical case definition of SARS:
A person with a history of:
Fever ≥ 38C
AND one or more symptoms of lower respiratory tract illness (cough, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath)
AND Radiographic evidence of lung infiltrates consistent with pneumonia or Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) OR autopsy findings consistent with the pathology of pneumonia or RDS without an identifiable cause.
AND No alternative diagnosis can fully explain the illness.
Laboratory case definition of SARS:
A person with symptoms and signs that are clinically suggestive of SARS and with positive laboratory findings for SARS CoV based on one or more of the following diagnostic criteria:
(a) PCR positive for SARS CoV
PCR positive using a validated method from:
At least 2 different clinical specimens (e.g. nasopharyngeal aspirate or stool) OR
The same clinical specimen collected on 2 or more occasions during the course of the illness (e.g. sequential nasopharyngeal aspirates) OR
Two different assays or repeat PCR using a new RNA extract from the original clinical sample on each occasion of testing.
(b) Seroconversion by ELIZA or IFA
Negative antibody test on acute serum followed by positive antibody test on convalescent phase serum tested in parallel OR
Fourfold or greater rise in antibody titre between acute and convalescent phase sera tested in parallel.
(c) Virus isolation
Isolation in cell culture of SARS CoV from any specimen and PCR confirmation using a validated method.