Temporal profiles of viral load in posterior oropharyngeal saliva samples and serum antibody responses during infection by SARS-CoV-2: an observational cohort study
Kelvin Kai-Wang To, MD †
Owen Tak-Yin Tsang, FRCP †
Wai-Shing Leung, FRCP
Anthony Raymond Tam, MRCP
Tak-Chiu Wu, FRCP
David Christopher Lung, FRCPath
et al.
Published:March 23, 2020DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30196-1
Summary
Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes severe community and nosocomial outbreaks. Comprehensive data for serial respiratory viral load and serum antibody responses from patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are not yet available. Nasopharyngeal and throat swabs are usually obtained for serial viral load monitoring of respiratory infections but gathering these specimens can cause discomfort for patients and put health-care workers at risk. We aimed to ascertain the serial respiratory viral load of SARS-CoV-2 in posterior oropharyngeal (deep throat) saliva samples from patients with COVID-19, and serum antibody responses.