1. Surface sampling for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in workplace outbreak settings in the UK, 2021-22.
- Author
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Nicholls I, Spencer A, Chen Y, Bennett A, and Atkinson B
- Subjects
- Humans, SARS-CoV-2 genetics, RNA, Viral genetics, Workplace, Disease Outbreaks, United Kingdom epidemiology, COVID-19 epidemiology
- Abstract
Aims: To utilize environmental surface sampling to evaluate areas of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) contamination within workplaces to identify trends and improve local coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) control measures., Methods and Results: Surface sampling was undertaken at 12 workplaces that experienced a cluster of COVID-19 cases in the workforce between March 2021 and March 2022. A total of 7.4% (61/829) samples collected were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by the quantitative PCR (qPCR) with only 1.8% (15/829) of samples identified with crossing threshold (Ct) values <35.0. No sample returned whole-genome sequence inferring RNA detected was degraded., Conclusions: Few workplace surface samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and positive samples typically contained low levels of nucleic acid. Although these data may infer a low probability of fomite transmission within the workplace, Ct values may have been lower at the time of contamination. Workplace environmental sampling identified lapses in COVID-19 control measures within individual sites and showed trends throughout the pandemic., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Applied Microbiology International.)
- Published
- 2023
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