Jornal de doenças infecciosas e terapia

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Biological Variability of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Nasopharyngeal Swab Test

Kenneth H. Rand, Kartik Cherabuddi, Michael Lauzardo, Stacy G. Beal, Neil Harris, Scott Powell, Randell L. Duggins, Forrest J Masters

We studied the variability among viral target Cycle Thresholds (Cts) of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR collected with conventional and 3D printed nasopharyngeal swabs from separate nostrils at the same time by the same investigator. There was far greater variation in the viral copy number than could be explained by the amount of material collected, as measured by the Cts of the RNaseP human Internal Control Gene (IC). We conclude that there are underlying biological differences in the distribution of the virus within the nasopharynx and nasal passages and that this communication encourages further study.