Fig. 1.

Results of nasopharyngeal (NP) and saliva specimens collected from cases 1 and 2 from E and N gene RT-PCR assays with cycle threshold (Ct) values (panels A and B plus E and F, respectively) and quantitative viral culture results on Vero cells (adjusted for volume) from case 1 and case 2 clinical samples (panels C and G, respectively). Culture results on Vero cells are shown for clinical and environmental samples for cases 1 and 2 (panel D). Of 6 environmental samples obtained at the bedside in case 1 (ie, kiss sample, discarded nasal tissues, cell phone, both hands, a cough bag and a 3–5-minute speaking bag), 5 had viable virus; the only exception was the speaking bag. Of 2 environmental samples obtained at the bedside in case 2 (a pledget cut from a face cloth found lying on the patient’s bed for at least 1 hour and the cell phone), the face cloth had viable virus whereas the cell phone did not. Dotted lines indicate the Ct value where no samples were positive and the limit of detection for PCR and culture, respectively. Note. PFU, plaque-forming units.