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. 2022 Jul 1;12(1):11151.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-15243-1.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in exhaled breath from non-hospitalized COVID-19-infected individuals

Cæcilie Leding  1 , Julia Skov  2 , Katrine Uhrbrand  3 , Jan Gorm Lisby  4 , Katrine Pedersbæk Hansen  5 , Thomas Benfield  5   6 , Louise Katrine Duncan  3
Affiliations

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in exhaled breath from non-hospitalized COVID-19-infected individuals

Cæcilie Leding et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

The diagnosis of COVID-19 is based on detection of SARS-CoV-2 in oro-/nasopharyngel swabs, but due to discomfort and minor risk during the swab procedure, detection of SARS-CoV-2 has been investigated in other biological matrixes. In this proof-of-concept study, individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection performed a daily air sample for five days. Air samples were obtained through a non-invasive electrostatic air sampler. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was determined with qRT-PCR. The association of positive samples with different exposures was evaluated through mixed-effect models. We obtained 665 air samples from 111 included participants with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Overall, 52 individuals (46.8%) had at least one positive air sample, and 129 (19.4%) air samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Participants with symptoms or a symptom duration ≤ four days had significantly higher odds of having a positive air sample. Cycle threshold values were significantly lower in samples obtained ≤ 4 days from symptom onset. Neither variant of SARS-CoV-2 nor method of air sampling were associated with a positive air sample. We demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 is detectable in human breath by electrostatic air sampling with the highest detection rate closest to symptom onset. We suggest further evaluation of the air sampling technique to increase sensitivity.

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Conflict of interest statement

J.S. reports employment of AeroCollect A/S, Brøndby, Denmark. K.U. and L.K.D. report employment of FORCE Technology, Brøndby, Denmark. All other authors report no potential conflicts.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of enrollment of participants. OP oropharyngeal, RT-PCR reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, SARS-CoV-2 severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Total number and number of positive air samples per day from symptom onset, and (b) percent positive air samples per day from symptom onset obtained through singing/loud talking from confirmed COVID-19 patients.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Generalized linear mixed model analyses of having a positive air sample stratified by exposures presented as OR. CI confidence interval, OR odds ratio, ref reference.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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