Diagnostic usefulness of subgenomic RNA detection of viable SARS-CoV-2 in patients with COVID-19

Abstract

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Dynamics of Viral Shedding and Symptoms in Patients with Asymptomatic or Mild COVID-19

“…However, culture-based isolation is difficult, labor-intensive and time-consuming, and has suboptimal sensitivity for detecting viable viruses due to bacterial contamination or cell detachment. Accordingly, previous studies suggested that a subgenomic RNA assay may be useful for predicting the duration of infective viral shedding because this assay may be complementary to suboptimal sensitivity of cell culture for viable virus shedding [8][9][10][11]. Our previous study also found that, while subgenomic RNA was detected for a few days after the negative conversion of viral culture, the mean duration of viral shedding assessed by subgenomic RNA detection was notably similar to that of virus culture [11].…”

“…Accordingly, previous studies suggested that a subgenomic RNA assay may be useful for predicting the duration of infective viral shedding because this assay may be complementary to suboptimal sensitivity of cell culture for viable virus shedding [8][9][10][11]. Our previous study also found that, while subgenomic RNA was detected for a few days after the negative conversion of viral culture, the mean duration of viral shedding assessed by subgenomic RNA detection was notably similar to that of virus culture [11]. Therefore, the true rate of viable SARS-CoV-2 shedding would lie between the sensitivity of cell culturepositive samples and that of subgenomic RNA-positive samples.…”

A rare case of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus super-infection

“…Despite the detection of the RNA alone cannot demonstrate the viability of SARS- CoV-2, and the prolonged RNA shedding could be associated with non-infectious viral recovery, infectious virus from patients with extended RNA shedding has been previously reported in particular for immunocompromised ones [ 15 , 16 ]. Indeed, recent studies demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with accelerated replication, high viral RNA titers and isolation of infectious virus during the acute phase, which is followed by a rapid decrease after the first two-three weeks [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] .…”

Detectable Duration of Viable SARS-CoV-2, Total and Subgenomic SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Noncritically Ill COVID-19 Patients: a Prospective Cohort Study

“…sgRNAs are transcribed in infected cells and are poorly packaged into mature virions; thus, their presence could indicate the presence of active viral replication ( 13 ). Many studies demonstrated the correlation between sgRNA detection and isolation of viable virus ( 14 – 16 ), but some studies argued against the association ( 17 – 19 ). We aimed to study the kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 total RNAs and sgRNAs and their potential role as surrogate markers of viral infectivity.…”