Low level SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in plasma samples from a cohort of Nigerians: Implications for blood transfusion
The present global pandemic triggered by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has lingered for over a year in its devastating effects. Diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently established with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test by means of oropha...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2021-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8191972/?tool=EBI |
| _version_ | 1798035138169274368 |
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| author | Azuka Patrick Okwuraiwe Chika Kingsley Onwuamah Joseph Ojonugwa Shaibu Samuel Olufemi Amoo Fehintola Anthonia Ige Ayorinde Babatunde James Leona Chika Okoli Abul-Rahman Ahmed Jamda Ponmak Judith O. Sokei Sulaimon Akanmu Babatunde Lawal Salako Rosemary Ajuma Audu |
| author_facet | Azuka Patrick Okwuraiwe Chika Kingsley Onwuamah Joseph Ojonugwa Shaibu Samuel Olufemi Amoo Fehintola Anthonia Ige Ayorinde Babatunde James Leona Chika Okoli Abul-Rahman Ahmed Jamda Ponmak Judith O. Sokei Sulaimon Akanmu Babatunde Lawal Salako Rosemary Ajuma Audu |
| author_sort | Azuka Patrick Okwuraiwe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present global pandemic triggered by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has lingered for over a year in its devastating effects. Diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently established with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test by means of oropharyngeal-, nasopharyngeal-, anal-swabs, sputum and blood plasma. However, oral and nasal swabs are more commonly used. This study, therefore, assessed sensitivity and specificity of plasma as a diagnostic in comparison with a combination of oral and nasal swab samples, and the implications for blood transfusion. Oropharyngeal (OP) and nasopharyngeal (NP) swab samples were obtained from 125 individuals suspected to have COVID-19 and stored in viral transport medium (VTM) tubes. Ten millilitres of blood samples in EDTA were also obtained by venepuncture and spun to obtain plasma. Viral RNA was obtained from both swabs and plasma by manual extraction with Qiagen QIAamp viral RNA Mini Kit. Detection was done using a real time fluorescent RT-qPCR BGI kit, on a QuantStudio 3 real-time PCR instrument. Average age of study participants was 41 years, with 74 (59.2%) being male. Out of the 125 individuals tested for COVID-19, 75 (60%) were positive by OP/NP swab. However, only 6 (4.8%) had a positive plasma result for COVID-19 with median Ct value of 32.4. Sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 test using plasma was 8% and 100% respectively. There was no false positive recorded, but 69 (55.2%) false negatives were obtained by plasma. SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA was detected, albeit low (4.8%) in plasma. Plasma is likely not a suitable biological sample to diagnose acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. The implication of transfusing blood in this era of COVID-19 needs further investigations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:54:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c049fc12d14d4133a81023fc6d8e4dbd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:54:05Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-c049fc12d14d4133a81023fc6d8e4dbd2022-12-22T04:03:46ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01166Low level SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in plasma samples from a cohort of Nigerians: Implications for blood transfusionAzuka Patrick OkwuraiweChika Kingsley OnwuamahJoseph Ojonugwa ShaibuSamuel Olufemi AmooFehintola Anthonia IgeAyorinde Babatunde JamesLeona Chika OkoliAbul-Rahman AhmedJamda PonmakJudith O. SokeiSulaimon AkanmuBabatunde Lawal SalakoRosemary Ajuma AuduThe present global pandemic triggered by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has lingered for over a year in its devastating effects. Diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently established with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test by means of oropharyngeal-, nasopharyngeal-, anal-swabs, sputum and blood plasma. However, oral and nasal swabs are more commonly used. This study, therefore, assessed sensitivity and specificity of plasma as a diagnostic in comparison with a combination of oral and nasal swab samples, and the implications for blood transfusion. Oropharyngeal (OP) and nasopharyngeal (NP) swab samples were obtained from 125 individuals suspected to have COVID-19 and stored in viral transport medium (VTM) tubes. Ten millilitres of blood samples in EDTA were also obtained by venepuncture and spun to obtain plasma. Viral RNA was obtained from both swabs and plasma by manual extraction with Qiagen QIAamp viral RNA Mini Kit. Detection was done using a real time fluorescent RT-qPCR BGI kit, on a QuantStudio 3 real-time PCR instrument. Average age of study participants was 41 years, with 74 (59.2%) being male. Out of the 125 individuals tested for COVID-19, 75 (60%) were positive by OP/NP swab. However, only 6 (4.8%) had a positive plasma result for COVID-19 with median Ct value of 32.4. Sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 test using plasma was 8% and 100% respectively. There was no false positive recorded, but 69 (55.2%) false negatives were obtained by plasma. SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA was detected, albeit low (4.8%) in plasma. Plasma is likely not a suitable biological sample to diagnose acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. The implication of transfusing blood in this era of COVID-19 needs further investigations.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8191972/?tool=EBI |
| spellingShingle | Azuka Patrick Okwuraiwe Chika Kingsley Onwuamah Joseph Ojonugwa Shaibu Samuel Olufemi Amoo Fehintola Anthonia Ige Ayorinde Babatunde James Leona Chika Okoli Abul-Rahman Ahmed Jamda Ponmak Judith O. Sokei Sulaimon Akanmu Babatunde Lawal Salako Rosemary Ajuma Audu Low level SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in plasma samples from a cohort of Nigerians: Implications for blood transfusion PLoS ONE |
| title | Low level SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in plasma samples from a cohort of Nigerians: Implications for blood transfusion |
| title_full | Low level SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in plasma samples from a cohort of Nigerians: Implications for blood transfusion |
| title_fullStr | Low level SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in plasma samples from a cohort of Nigerians: Implications for blood transfusion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low level SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in plasma samples from a cohort of Nigerians: Implications for blood transfusion |
| title_short | Low level SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in plasma samples from a cohort of Nigerians: Implications for blood transfusion |
| title_sort | low level sars cov 2 rna detected in plasma samples from a cohort of nigerians implications for blood transfusion |
| url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8191972/?tool=EBI |
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