loading page

Viral kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with COVID-19
  • +4
  • Da Young Kim,
  • Ju-Hyung Lee,
  • Hyeon Jeong Oh,
  • Jun-Won Seo,
  • Na-Ra Yoon,
  • Choon-Mee Kim,
  • Dong-Min Kim
Da Young Kim
Chosun University College of Medicine

Corresponding Author:dayz02@hanmail.net

Author Profile
Ju-Hyung Lee
Author Profile
Hyeon Jeong Oh
Author Profile
Jun-Won Seo
Author Profile
Na-Ra Yoon
Author Profile
Choon-Mee Kim
Author Profile
Dong-Min Kim
Author Profile

Abstract

As only few studies have analyzed viral kinetics between the incubation and symptomatic periods of COVID-19 patients, we investigated the viral kinetics and compared viral loads between patients with mild and severe COVID-19. We determined the viral kinetics of 10 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at Chosun University Hospital. Six patients were classified into the “mild” group and 4 into the “severe” group according to supplemental oxygen use during admission. Samples were collected via nasopharyngeal swabs and sputum specimens. SARS-CoV-2 was detected using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Chest radiograph scores during hospitalization were obtained. Ct values of the upper respiratory tract specimens were low during the early stages after symptom onset but gradually increased over time in both groups. The severe group had lower Ct values than the mild group. The Ct values of the RdRP and E genes on day 6 after symptom onset were significantly lower in the severe group than in the mild group (p < 0.05). Three of 6 patients had positive results on RT-PCR even before symptom onset; 2 of them had the lowest Ct values. The chest radiograph scores were higher in the severe group than in the mild group, and the score in the severe group was the highest at approximately 3 weeks after symptom onset. Viral load and chest radiograph scores were significantly different between the severe and mild groups of COVID-19 patients.