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Updated: Oct 29, 2025
08:26
Large-Scale SARS-CoV-2 Testing Utilizing Saliva and Transposition Sample Pooling
Published on: June 23, 2022
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SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid shedding is variable for every person
Daiana de Lima-Morales1,2, Priscila Lamb Wink1,2,3, Fabiana Caroline Zempulski Volpato1,2,4
1Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Resistência Bacteriana (Labresis), Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira De Medicina Tropical
|July 7, 2021
Summary
Healthcare workers shed SARS-CoV-2 RNA for extended periods, with over 50% testing positive after 14 days. Viral RNA shedding duration varies significantly among individuals, even with mild symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
- Public Health
Background:
- Persistent positivity on RT-qPCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 necessitates understanding viral RNA shedding.
- Healthcare workers are a critical population for monitoring viral shedding due to potential occupational exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the viral RNA shedding period in healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2.
- To analyze sequential RT-qPCR results to determine the duration of viral RNA shedding.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring sequential RT-qPCR test results from 29 healthcare workers.
- Data collection occurred between March and June 2020.
Main Results:
- Over 50% of healthcare workers remained RT-qPCR positive beyond 14 days post-initial testing.
- A case of prolonged viral RNA shedding was observed for 95 days in a healthcare worker with mild SARS-CoV-2 symptoms.
- Significant heterogeneity in viral RNA shedding duration was noted among participants.
Conclusions:
- The viral RNA shedding period following SARS-CoV-2 infection is highly individualized.
- Sequential RT-qPCR results demonstrate heterogeneous shedding patterns, underscoring the need for personalized assessment.
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