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. 2022 May 5:jiac180. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiac180

SARS-CoV-2 virus dynamics in recently infected people – data from a household transmission study

Alexandra M Mellis 1,, Jennifer K Meece 2, Natasha B Halasa 3, James D Chappell 3, Huong Q McLean 2, Carlos G Grijalva 3, Kayla E Hanson 2, Yuwei Zhu 3, Ahra Kim 3, Jessica Deyoe 1, Lynn C Ivacic 2, Carrie Reed 1, H Keipp Talbot 3, Melissa A Rolfes 1
PMCID: PMC9129201  PMID: 35512334

Abstract

We used daily real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) results from 67 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a household transmission study, conducted April 2020--May 2021, to examine the trajectory of cycle threshold (Ct) values, an inverse correlate of viral RNA concentration. Ct values varied across RT-PCR platforms and by participant age. Specimens collected from children and adolescents had higher Ct values and adults aged ≥50 years showed lower Ct values than adults aged 18-49 years. Ct values were lower on days when participants reported experiencing symptoms, with the lowest Ct value occurring 2-6 days after symptom onset.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, cycle threshold values, age, viral dynamics, RT-PCR

Supplementary Material

jiac180_Supplementary_Data

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Supplementary Materials

jiac180_Supplementary_Data

Articles from The Journal of Infectious Diseases are provided here courtesy of Oxford University Press

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