SARS-CoV-2 in urine, blood, anal swabs and oropharyngeal swabs samples
SARS-CoV-2 in urine, blood, anal swabs and oropharyngeal swabs samples. Heneghan C.
https://www.cebm.net/study/sars-cov-2-in-urine-blood-anal-swabs-and-oropharyngeal-swabs-samples/
Published on July 30, 2020
Included in
Transmission Dynamics of COVID-19
Reference |
Peng L, Liu J, Xu W et al. Novel coronavirus can be detected in urine, blood, anal swabs and oropharyngeal swabs samples. medRxiv 2020.02.21.20026179. doi:10.1101/2020.02.21.20026179 |
Study type |
|
Country |
China |
Setting |
Hospital |
Funding Details |
Natural Science Foundation of China, Tackling of key scientific and emergency special program of Sun Yat-sen University and Emergency special program for 2019-nCoV of Guangdong province science and technology project. |
Transmission mode |
Orofecal |
Exposures |
|
Bottom Line
Virus was found in urine, blood, anal swabs (n =2) and oropharyngeal swabs of nine patients diagnosed with COVID-19
Evidence Summary
All patients presented with a fever. Other symptoms were cough, sore throat, fatigue and diarrhoea. Two patients had positive anal swabs:
- Patient 8 had three positive results in blood, anal swab and oropharyngeal swab on the 3rd day after onset.
- Patient 9 the viral load was roughly higher in anal swab than oropharyngeal swab
What did they do?
Samples were collected from nine patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Patients’ demographic data and clinical characteristics were recorded. Urine, blood, anal swabs and oropharyngeal swabs from SARS-CoV-2 RNA level by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
Study reliability
Clearly defined setting |
Demographic characteristics described |
Follow-up length was sufficient |
Transmission outcomes assessed |
Main biases are taken into consideration |
No |
Partly |
Yes |
Yes
|
No |
What else should I consider?
About the authors
Carl Heneghan
Carl is Professor of EBM & Director of CEBM at the University of Oxford. He is also a GP and tweets @carlheneghan. He has an active interest in discovering the truth behind health research findings