Quantitative norovirus viral load is not affected by home storage of stool

In preparation of a clinical trial of norovirus treatment, there were concerns raised by FDA about risk of self-storage of stool from patients infected with norovirus affecting quantitative assessments of norovirus RNA. Specifically, most home freezers are frost-free and may expose the samples to multiple rounds of freeze-thaw. Stool samples collected by the study team were stored at different lengths in a frost-free freezer and at -80°C. Quantitative PCRs of norovirus were performed on all samples using the same assay. By all measures, there was no significant change in measured viral load with home storage.