Low level SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in plasma samples from a cohort of Nigerians: Implications for blood transfusion.

Autor: Okwuraiwe AP; Centre for Human Virology and Genomics, Microbiology Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria., Onwuamah CK; Centre for Human Virology and Genomics, Microbiology Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria., Shaibu JO; Centre for Human Virology and Genomics, Microbiology Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria., Amoo SO; Centre for Human Virology and Genomics, Microbiology Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria., Ige FA; Centre for Human Virology and Genomics, Microbiology Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria., James AB; Biochemistry Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria., Okoli LC; Centre for Human Virology and Genomics, Microbiology Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria., Ahmed AR; Centre for Human Virology and Genomics, Microbiology Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria., Ponmak J; Centre for Human Virology and Genomics, Microbiology Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.; Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria., Sokei JO; Centre for Human Virology and Genomics, Microbiology Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria., Akanmu S; Department of Haematology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria., Salako BL; Clinical Sciences Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria., Audu RA; Centre for Human Virology and Genomics, Microbiology Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: PloS one [PLoS One] 2021 Jun 10; Vol. 16 (6), pp. e0252611. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jun 10 (Print Publication: 2021).
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252611
Abstrakt: The present global pandemic triggered by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has lingered for over a year in its devastating effects. Diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently established with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test by means of oropharyngeal-, nasopharyngeal-, anal-swabs, sputum and blood plasma. However, oral and nasal swabs are more commonly used. This study, therefore, assessed sensitivity and specificity of plasma as a diagnostic in comparison with a combination of oral and nasal swab samples, and the implications for blood transfusion. Oropharyngeal (OP) and nasopharyngeal (NP) swab samples were obtained from 125 individuals suspected to have COVID-19 and stored in viral transport medium (VTM) tubes. Ten millilitres of blood samples in EDTA were also obtained by venepuncture and spun to obtain plasma. Viral RNA was obtained from both swabs and plasma by manual extraction with Qiagen QIAamp viral RNA Mini Kit. Detection was done using a real time fluorescent RT-qPCR BGI kit, on a QuantStudio 3 real-time PCR instrument. Average age of study participants was 41 years, with 74 (59.2%) being male. Out of the 125 individuals tested for COVID-19, 75 (60%) were positive by OP/NP swab. However, only 6 (4.8%) had a positive plasma result for COVID-19 with median Ct value of 32.4. Sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 test using plasma was 8% and 100% respectively. There was no false positive recorded, but 69 (55.2%) false negatives were obtained by plasma. SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA was detected, albeit low (4.8%) in plasma. Plasma is likely not a suitable biological sample to diagnose acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. The implication of transfusing blood in this era of COVID-19 needs further investigations.
Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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