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. 2004 May;10(5):825-31.
doi: 10.3201/eid1005.030682.

Laboratory diagnosis of SARS

Paul K S Chan  1 , Wing-Kin To, King-Cheung Ng, Rebecca K Y Lam, Tak-Keung Ng, Rickjason C W Chan, Alan Wu, Wai-Cho Yu, Nelson Lee, David S C Hui, Sik-To Lai, Ellis K L Hon, Chi-Kong Li, Joseph J Y Sung, John S Tam
Affiliations

Laboratory diagnosis of SARS

Paul K S Chan et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2004 May.

Abstract

The virologic test results of 415 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) were examined. The peak detection rate for SARS-associated coronavirus occurred at week 2 after illness onset for respiratory specimens, at weeks 2 to 3 for stool or rectal swab specimens, and at week 4 for urine specimens. The latest stool sample that was positive by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was collected on day 75 while the patient was receiving intensive care. Tracheal aspirate and stool samples had a higher diagnostic yield (RT-PCR average positive rate for first 2 weeks: 66.7% and 56.5%, respectively). Pooled throat and nasal swabs, rectal swab, nasal swab, throat swab, and nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens provided a moderate yield (29.7%-40.0%), whereas throat washing and urine specimens showed a lower yield (17.3% and 4.5%). The collection procedures for stool and pooled nasal and throat swab specimens were the least likely to transmit infection, and the combination gave the highest yield for coronavirus detection by RT-PCR. Positive virologic test results in patient groups were associated with mechanical ventilation or death (p < 0.001), suggesting a correlation between viral load and disease severity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Time of first specimen collection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Positive rates of specimen groups according to time of collection from onset of symptoms. The number of specimens tested is shown in Table 1.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Positive rates of specimens collected within the first 3 weeks.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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