Children Have Similar Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction Cycle Threshold for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Comparison With Adults

• Published in: The Pediatric infectious disease journal Vol. 40; no. 11; p. e413
• Main Authors: Polese-Bonatto, Márcia, Sartor, Ivaine Tais Sauthier, Varela, Fernanda Hammes, Giannini, Gabriela Luchiari Tumioto, Azevedo, Thaís Raupp, Kern, Luciane Beatriz, Fernandes, Ingrid Rodrigues, Zavaglia, Gabriela Oliveira, de David, Caroline Nespolo, Santos, Amanda Paz, de Almeida, Walquiria Aparecida Ferreira, Porto, Victor Bertollo Gomes, Scotta, Marcelo Comerlato, Stein, Renato T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.11.2021
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Brazil; Child; COVID-19 - diagnosis; COVID-19 - virology; COVID-19 Testing; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Infant; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction - standards; RNA, Viral; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; Viral Load; Brazil
• ISSN: 1532-0987
• DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003300

The viral dynamics and the role of children in the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are not completely understood. Our aim was to evaluate reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) cycle threshold (Ct) values among children with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 compared with that of adult subjects. Patients (from 2 months to ≤18 years of age and adults) with signs and symptoms of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection for less than 7 days were prospectively enrolled in the study from May to November 2020. All participants performed RT-PCR assay for SARS-CoV-2 detection; Ct values of ORF1ab, N and S gene targets and the average of all the 3 probes were used as surrogates of viral load. There were 21 infants (2 months to <2 years), 40 children (≥2 to <12 years), 22 adolescents (≥12 to <18 years) and 293 adults of 376 participants with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections. RT-PCR Ct values from all participants less than 18 years of age, as well as from all childhood subgroups, were not significantly different from adults, comparing ORF1ab, N, S and all the gene targets together (P = 0.453). Ct values for children were comparable with that of adults. Although viral load is not the only determinant of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, children may play a role in the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 in the community.