Figure 3.

Median viral load (A), individual participant viral load (B), and viral culture (C) in lesions, oropharyngeal, rectal, and semen samples by time from symptom onset

Viral load measures are expressed as log₁₀ copies per mL (mL of viral transport media for lesion, pharynx, and rectum, and mL of blood and semen). The limit of detection was 4·0 log₁₀ copies per mL for the blood samples and 2·9 log₁₀ copies per mL for the rest of the samples, both of which are indicated with dashed lines. For each patient, the sample collection day was adjusted for the date of onset of symptoms. In A, box plots represent median, IQR, and minimum and maxiumum viral load. In C, samples in red had replication-competent viruses detected by culture.