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Low level SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in plasma samples from a cohort of Nigerians: Implications for blood transfusion
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, PLoS ONE, Vol 16, Iss 6, p e0252611 (2021), PLoS ONE, Vol 16, Iss 6 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science, 2021.
-
Abstract
- The present global pandemic triggered by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has lingered for over a year in its devastating effects. Diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently established with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test by means of oropharyngeal-, nasopharyngeal-, anal-swabs, sputum and blood plasma. However, oral and nasal swabs are more commonly used. This study, therefore, assessed sensitivity and specificity of plasma as a diagnostic in comparison with a combination of oral and nasal swab samples, and the implications for blood transfusion. Oropharyngeal (OP) and nasopharyngeal (NP) swab samples were obtained from 125 individuals suspected to have COVID-19 and stored in viral transport medium (VTM) tubes. Ten millilitres of blood samples in EDTA were also obtained by venepuncture and spun to obtain plasma. Viral RNA was obtained from both swabs and plasma by manual extraction with Qiagen QIAamp viral RNA Mini Kit. Detection was done using a real time fluorescent RT-qPCR BGI kit, on a QuantStudio 3 real-time PCR instrument. Average age of study participants was 41 years, with 74 (59.2%) being male. Out of the 125 individuals tested for COVID-19, 75 (60%) were positive by OP/NP swab. However, only 6 (4.8%) had a positive plasma result for COVID-19 with median Ct value of 32.4. Sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 test using plasma was 8% and 100% respectively. There was no false positive recorded, but 69 (55.2%) false negatives were obtained by plasma. SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA was detected, albeit low (4.8%) in plasma. Plasma is likely not a suitable biological sample to diagnose acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. The implication of transfusing blood in this era of COVID-19 needs further investigations.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
RNA viruses
Male
Viral Diseases
Blood transfusion
Pulmonology
Physiology
Coronaviruses
medicine.medical_treatment
Artificial Gene Amplification and Extension
Gastroenterology
Polymerase Chain Reaction
law.invention
0302 clinical medicine
Medical Conditions
law
Blood plasma
Medicine and Health Sciences
030212 general & internal medicine
Polymerase chain reaction
Pathology and laboratory medicine
Virus Testing
Multidisciplinary
Venipuncture
Hematology
Medical microbiology
Middle Aged
Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Body Fluids
Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Infectious Diseases
Blood
Nasal Swab
COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing
Cohort
Viruses
Medicine
RNA, Viral
Female
medicine.symptom
Anatomy
SARS CoV 2
Pathogens
Research Article
Adult
medicine.medical_specialty
SARS coronavirus
Adolescent
Science
Nigeria
Research and Analysis Methods
Microbiology
Sensitivity and Specificity
Blood Plasma
03 medical and health sciences
Respiratory Disorders
Young Adult
Diagnostic Medicine
Internal medicine
medicine
Humans
Blood Transfusion
Molecular Biology Techniques
Molecular Biology
Aged
business.industry
Transfusion Medicine
SARS-CoV-2
Organisms
Viral pathogens
RNA
Biology and Life Sciences
COVID-19
Covid 19
Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction
Microbial pathogens
030104 developmental biology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Respiratory Infections
Sputum
business
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 16
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....0d3e485cc682ec0196f5bf71b771f998