Cancer Diagnosis Program | Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research Branch

Search BRD Papers

SARS-CoV-2 -RNA persists longer in faecal sample as compared to nasal and throat swab samples of COVID-19 patients'; an observational study.

Author(s): Prakash S, Shukla S, Mishra H, Prakash O, Khan DN, Pandey A, Reddy DH, Jain A

Publication: Indian J Med Microbiol, 2021, Vol. 39, Page 122-124

PubMed ID: 33610243 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

Conclusion of Paper

Studies

1. Study Purpose

   This study compared the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in matched nasal swab, oropharyngeal swab, serum, urine, and fecal specimens using real-time qRT-PCR over the course of the patient’s hospitalization. Specimens were collected from nine hospitalized patients (aged=2.6-53 y) every other day for up to 4 weeks after hospital admission (specimen collection, processing, and storage details not provided). Viral RNA was extracted using the PureLink DNA/RNA Mini Kit. SARS-CoV-2-E-gene and RNase P were detected by real-time qRT-PCR and SARS-CoV-2- RdRp and ORF1b were used in a confirmatory assay. The cycle threshold cutoff for determining a positive specimen was not provided.

   Summary of Findings:

   SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected in any urine or serum specimens but was detected in at least one specimen type (nasal swab, oropharyngeal swab, or feces) for a minimum of 9 days and a maximum of 24 days. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in oropharyngeal swabs for the shortest span of days (5-15 days) and detection was lost earlier in the timecourse compared to nasal swab and fecal specimens in eight of nine patients. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in nasal swabs specimens for a range of 7-19 days. SARS-CoV-2 l RNA was detected in fecal specimens for 4-22 days and continued to be detected in specimens from all patients for 3-5 days after loss of detection in nasal and oropharyngeal swab specimens.

   Biospecimens

   • Cell - Nasal cavity
   • Cell - Oral Cavity
   • Bodily Fluid - Urine
   • Bodily Fluid - Serum
   • Bodily Fluid - Feces

   Preservative Types

   • None (Fresh)

   Diagnoses:

   • Pneumonia/Respiratory Infection

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   RNA	Real-time qRT-PCR

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Real-time qRT-PCR Specific	Targeted nucleic acid	SARS-CoV-2-E-gene SARS-CoV-2-RdRp RNase P SARS-CoV-2-ORF1b
   Biospecimen Acquisition	Biospecimen location	Feces Serum Urine Nasal cavity Oral cavity

   View more