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 5
Correlation of RT-qPCR clinical specimens taken during days 10 to 15, and clinical manifestations in 40 patients with SARS who had specimens taken from all four anatomical sitesPaP
| Specimen | Diarrhea |
OB2B 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=40) | ||||||||||||
| RT-qPCR (+) (n = 18) | 11 | 7 | 0.4 | 11 | 7 | 0.02; 5.3 (1.4–21.1) | 7 | 11 | < 0.01; 1.6 (1.1–2.4) | 8 | 10 | < 0.01; 1.8 (1.2–2.7) |
| RT-qPCR (–) (n = 22) | 10 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 22 | ||||
| Median viral load (logB10B copies/mL) |
2.9 |
0 |
0.4 |
5.1 |
0 |
< 0.01 |
6.4 |
0 |
< 0.01 |
6.4 |
0 |
< 0.01 |
| Serum (n = 40) | ||||||||||||
| RT-qPCR (+) (n = 18) | 12 | 6 | 0.1 | 11 | 7 | 0.02; 5.3 (1.4–21.1) | 7 | 11 | < 0.01; 1.6 (1.1–2.4) | 8 | 10 | < 0.01; 1.8 (1.2–2.7) |
| RT-qPCR (–) (n = 22) | 9 | 13 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 22 | ||||
| Median viral load
(logB10B copies/mL) |
2.3 |
0 |
0.3 |
2.4 |
0 |
0.02 |
2.6 |
0 |
< 0.01 |
2.6 |
0 |
< 0.01 |
| Stool (n = 40) | ||||||||||||
| RT-qPCR (+) (n = 30) | 20 | 10 | < 0.01; 18 (2.0–16.3) | 12 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 25 | 1 | 7 | 23 | 0.7 |
| RT-qPCR (–) (n = 10) | 1 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 9 | ||||
| Median viral load
(logB10B copies/mL) |
7.8 |
2.6 |
< 0.01 |
7.3 |
7.2 |
0.5 |
8.2 |
7.2 |
0.5 |
8.7 |
7 |
0.03 |
| Urine (n = 40) | ||||||||||||
| RT-qPCR (+) (n = 9) | 6 | 3 | 0.5 | 3 | 6 | 0.7 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| RT-qPCR (–) (n = 31) | 15 | 16 | 13 | 18 | 6 | 25 | 6 | 25 | ||||
| Median viral load (logB10B copies/mL) | 0 | 0 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
PaPRT-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.
