Volume 26, Number 7—July 2020
Online Report
Evidence Supporting Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 While Presymptomatic or Asymptomatic
Table 2
Summary of virologic reports supporting transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 while asymptomatic and presymptomatic*
Reference | Setting | Patient(s), age/sex | Laboratory findings | Limitations |
---|---|---|---|---|
(23,28) |
Nursing home outbreak in Washington |
24 presymptomatic and 3 asymptomatic |
Mean RT-PCR Ct value 24.2 for presymptomatic and 27.3 for asymptomatic patients. Viral culture identified infectious virus in 7 (64%) of 11 specimens from presymptomatic patients; no virus detected in 1 asymptomatic patient. |
Incomplete viral culture sampling from all presymptomatic and asymptomatic patients. |
(24) |
Repatriated to Germany from Wuhan, China |
2 asymptomatic adults |
Patients’ RT-PCR Ct values 24 and 30; infectious virus was detected by viral culture for both. |
No evidence of transmission during evacuation flight. |
(25) |
Family cluster in Singapore |
Asymptomatic 6 mo/M |
RT-PCR Ct values 14 at diagnosis and increased to 33 over 9 d. |
No evidence of transmission from the infant to another household member. |
(26) |
Cluster in Vietnam related to travel to Wuhan |
Asymptomatic 55 y/M |
RT-PCR Ct values >40 at diagnosis and during 9 d of viral RNA shedding. |
High Ct in the asymptomatic patient suggests minimal infectiousness. |
(27) | Family cluster in Guangdong, China | Asymptomatic, 26 y/M | RT-PCR Ct values 22–32 during testing 7–11 d after initial diagnosis. | No evidence of transmission to other family members in the cluster. |
*Ct, cycle threshold, RT-PCR, reverse transcription PCR.
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