AI Article Synopsis
- The study analyzed SARS-CoV-2 data from 3.3 million nose and throat swabs collected in the UK from April 2020 to March 2021, focusing on cycle threshold (Ct) values as an indicator of viral load.
- Out of the positive samples, a wide range of Ct values was found; lower Ct values (indicating higher viral loads) were associated with symptoms and detecting more viral genes, while factors like sex and age had minimal impact.
- The findings suggest that fluctuations in community-level Ct values could serve as an early-warning sign for potential increases in SARS-CoV-2 cases.
Article Abstract
Background: Information on SARS-CoV-2 in representative community surveillance is limited, particularly cycle threshold (Ct) values (a proxy for viral load).
Methods: We included all positive nose and throat swabs 26 April 2020 to 13 March 2021 from the UK's national COVID-19 Infection Survey, tested by RT-PCR for the N, S, and ORF1ab genes. We investigated predictors of median Ct value using quantile regression.
Results: Of 3,312,159 nose and throat swabs, 27,902 (0.83%) were RT-PCR-positive, 10,317 (37%), 11,012 (40%), and 6550 (23%) for 3, 2, or 1 of the N, S, and ORF1ab genes, respectively, with median Ct = 29.2 (~215 copies/ml; IQR Ct = 21.9-32.8, 14-56,400 copies/ml). Independent predictors of lower Cts (i.e. higher viral load) included self-reported symptoms and more genes detected, with at most small effects of sex, ethnicity, and age. Single-gene positives almost invariably had Ct > 30, but Cts varied widely in triple-gene positives, including without symptoms. Population-level Cts changed over time, with declining Ct preceding increasing SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Of 6189 participants with IgG S-antibody tests post-first RT-PCR-positive, 4808 (78%) were ever antibody-positive; Cts were significantly higher in those remaining antibody negative.
Conclusions: Marked variation in community SARS-CoV-2 Ct values suggests that they could be a useful epidemiological early-warning indicator.
Funding: Department of Health and Social Care, National Institutes of Health Research, Huo Family Foundation, Medical Research Council UK; Wellcome Trust.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8282332 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.64683 | DOI Listing |
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