Recurrent SARS-CoV-2 RNA Detection after COVID-19 Illness Onset during Pregnancy

Abstract

The Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies Network conducts longitudinal surveillance of pregnant persons in the United States with laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection during pregnancy. Of 6,551 infected pregnant persons in this analysis, 142 (2.2%) had positive RNA tests >90 days and up to 416 days after infection.

Keywords: 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease; COVID-19; RT-PCR; SARS-CoV-2; United States; coronavirus disease; pregnancy; real-time reverse transcription PCR; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

Figure

Timing of all known respiratory reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) results among recurrent positive pregnant persons (positive test result >90 days from reported symptom onset), Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies Network, United States, March 29, 2020–December 31, 2020 (n = 142). Data reported as of September 3, 2021. Case ID 4 had positive and negative respiratory RT-PCR tests on day 114; case ID 20 had positive and negative respiratory RT-PCR tests on day 160; case ID 107 had positive and negative respiratory RT-PCR tests on day 186; case ID 135 had positive and negative respiratory RT-PCR tests on days 382 and 389; case ID 139 had positive and negative respiratory RT-PCR tests on day 204. Indeterminate result was defined as one that might indicate the presence of viral RNA but not enough to be considered positive. ID, identification.