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Updated: Nov 18, 2025

Isolation of Leukocytes from Human Breast Milk for Use in an Antibody-dependent Cellular Phagocytosis Assay of HIV Targets
Published on: September 6, 2019
Is SARS-CoV-2 Transmitted Through Breastfeeding?
S Thanigainathan1, Venkatesh Kaliyaperumal2, Sindhu Sivanandan1
1Department of Neonatology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, 605 006, India.
There are concerns regarding the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from mother to child during this COVID pandemic. This descriptive study was done to check the possible transmission of the virus through breastfeeding in the Indian context. RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2 was done in breast milk samples from 30 COVID-positive mothers. Paired oropharyngeal swabs of the same neonates were also sent for RT-PCR at 48 h and on day 5 of life. All the breast milk samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2 except one. A repeat sample of breast milk from the same mother was also negative when rechecked the next day. All the paired neonatal oropharyngeal swabs were also negative for SARS-CoV-2. The authors could not find evidence for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from mother to child through breastmilk in the population studied.
There are concerns regarding the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from mother to child during this COVID pandemic. This descriptive study was done to check the possible transmission of the virus through breastfeeding in the Indian context. RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2 was done in breast milk samples from 30 COVID-positive mothers. Paired oropharyngeal swabs of the same neonates were also sent for RT-PCR at 48 h and on day 5 of life. All the breast milk samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2 except one. A repeat sample of breast milk from the same mother was also negative when rechecked the next day. All the paired neonatal oropharyngeal swabs were also negative for SARS-CoV-2. The authors could not find evidence for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from mother to child through breastmilk in the population studied.
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