Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link
Volume 27, Number 6—June 2021
Research Letter

Rapid Antigen Test for Postmortem Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 Carriage

Martin ZachariasComments to Author , Verena Stangl, Andrea Thüringer, Martina Loibner, Philipp Wurm, Stella Wolfgruber, Kurt Zatloukal, Karl Kashofer, and Gregor Gorkiewicz
Author affiliation: Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

Main Article

Figure

Postmortem detection and cultivation of SARS-CoV-2 for investigation of RAT for postmortem evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 carriage, Graz, Austria. A) Among 30 deceased SARS-CoV-2 patients, RAT detected fewer positive cases than did qRT-PCR. B) RAT-negative cases show significantly higher Ct values in qRT-PCR compared with RAT-positive cases (Mann-Whitney test). C) Cultivation negative and positive cases mirror Ct values of RAT results (Mann-Whitney test). D–F) Longer disease durations are significantly correlated with higher Ct values (Spearman correlation test; D), negative RAT results (Mann-Whitney test; E), and negative cultivation results (Mann-Whitney test; F). G–I) No significant correlation was found between postmortem intervals and Ct values (Spearman correlation test; G), RAT results (Mann-Whitney test; H), or cultivation results (Mann-Whitney test; I). C, cultivation; Ct, cycle threshold; neg, negative; qRT-PCR, quantitative reverse transcription PCR; RAT, rapid antigen test; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; +, positive; –, negative.

Figure. Postmortem detection and cultivation of SARS-CoV-2 for investigation of RAT for postmortem evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 carriage, Graz, Austria. A) Among 30 deceased SARS-CoV-2 patients, RAT detected fewer positive cases than did qRT-PCR. B) RAT-negative cases show significantly higher Ct values in qRT-PCR compared with RAT-positive cases (Mann-Whitney test). C) Cultivation negative and positive cases mirror Ct values of RAT results (Mann-Whitney test). D–F) Longer disease durations are significantly correlated with higher Ct values (Spearman correlation test; D), negative RAT results (Mann-Whitney test; E), and negative cultivation results (Mann-Whitney test; F). G–I) No significant correlation was found between postmortem intervals and Ct values (Spearman correlation test; G), RAT results (Mann-Whitney test; H), or cultivation results (Mann-Whitney test; I). C, cultivation; Ct, cycle threshold; neg, negative; qRT-PCR, quantitative reverse transcription PCR; RAT, rapid antigen test; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; +, positive; –, negative.

Main Article

Page created: April 05, 2021
Page updated: May 18, 2021
Page reviewed: May 18, 2021
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
file_external