Volume 10, Number 9—September 2004
Research
Viral Loads in Clinical Specimens and SARS Manifestations
I.F.N. Hung*, V.C.C. Cheng*, A.K.L. Wu†, B.S.F. Tang*, K.H. Chan*, C.M. Chu‡, M.M.L. Wong§, W.T. Hui*, L.L.M. Poon*, D.M.W. Tse§, K.S. Chan‡, P.C.Y. Woo*, S.K.P. Lau*, J.S.M. Peiris*, and K.Y. Yuen*
Table 3
Correlation of RT-qPCR of clinical specimens taken during days 10 to 15, and clinical manifestations in 154 patients with SARSa
| Specimen | Diarrhea |
O2 desaturation |
Mechanical ventilation |
Death |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y | N | p value; OR (CI) | Y | N | p value; OR (CI) | Y | N | p value; OR (CI) | Y | N | p value; OR (CI) | |
| NPA (n = 142) | ||||||||||||
| RT-qPCR (+) (n = 60) | 37 | 23 | < 0.01; 2.5 (1.3–5.0) | 37 | 23 | < 0.01; 3.1 (1.6–6.2) | 22 | 38 | < 0.01; 11.3 (3.6–35.1) | 24 | 36 | < 0.01; 54 (7.1–415.0) |
| RT-qPCR (–) (n = 82) | 32 | 50 | 28 | 54 | 4 | 78 | 1 | 81 | ||||
| Median viral load (log10 copies/mL) | 3.2 | 0 | 0.02 | 4.5 | 0 | < 0.01 | 6.4 | 0 | < 0.01 | 6.5 | 0 | < 0.01 |
| Serum (n = 53) | ||||||||||||
| RT-qPCR (+) (n = 22) | 12 | 10 | 0.4 | 13 | 9 | < 0.01; 5 (1.5–16.4) | 7 | 15 | < 0.01; 1.5 (1.1–2.0) | 8 | 14 | < 0.01; 17.1 (2.0–151.0) |
| RT-qPCR (–) (n = 31) | 13 | 18 | 7 | 24 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 31 | ||||
| Median viral load (log10 copies/mL) | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 0 | < 0.01 | 2.6 | 0 | < 0.01 | 2.6 | 0 | < 0.01 |
| Stool (n = 94) | ||||||||||||
| RT-qPCR (+) (n = 82) | 46 | 36 | < 0.01; 14.1 (1.7–114.0) | 39 | 43 | 0.5 | 16 | 66 | 1 | 17 | 65 | 0.5 |
| RT-qPCR (–) (n = 12) | 1 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 11 | ||||
| Median viral load (log10 copies/mL) | 7.5 | 5 | < 0.01 | 7.2 | 5 | 0.1 | 8 | 7 | 0.05 | 8.3 | 6.9 | < 0.01 |
| Urine (n = 111) | ||||||||||||
| RT-qPCR (+) (n = 32) | 23 | 9 | < 0.01; 3.8 (1.5–9.2) | 15 | 17 | 0.8 | 7 | 25 | 0.4 | 7 | 25 | 0.4 |
| RT-qPCR (–) (n = 79) | 32 | 47 | 34 | 45 | 12 | 67 | 11 | 68 | ||||
| Median viral load (log10 copies/mL) | 0 | 0 | < 0.01 | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0.4 |
aRT-qPCR, quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction; SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome; Y, yes; N, no; OR, odds ratio; CI, 95% confidence interval; NPA, nasopharyngeal aspirates
