Abstract
Background: SARS-CoV-2 emerged in 2019 and resulted in a pandemic causing millions of infections worldwide. Gold-standard for SARS-CoV-2 detection uses quantitative RT-qPCR on respiratory secretions to detect viral RNA (vRNA). Acquiring these samples is invasive, can be painful for those with xerostomia and other health conditions, and sample quality can vary greatly. Frequently only symptomatic individuals are tested even though asymptomatic individuals can have comparable viral loads and efficiently transmit virus.
Methods: We utilized a non-invasive approach to detect SARS-CoV-2 in individuals, using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) strips embedded in KN95 masks. PVA strips were tested for SARS-CoV-2 vRNA via qRT-PCR and infectious virus.
Results: We show efficient recovery of vRNA and infectious virus from virus-spiked PVA with detection limits comparable to nasal swab samples. In infected individuals, we detect both human and SARS-CoV-2 RNA on PVA strips, however, these levels are not correlated with length of time mask was worn, number of times coughed or sneezed, or level of virus in nasal swab samples. We successfully cultured and deep-sequenced PVA-associated virus.
Conclusions: These results demonstrate the feasibility of using PVA-embedded masks as a non-invasive platform for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in exhaled air in COVID-positive individuals regardless of symptom status.
Keywords: COVID-19; Face masks; Personal protective equipment; SARS-CoV-2; qRT-PCR analysis.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Personal protective equipment, Face masks, qRT-PCR analysis., 【초록키워드】 Personal protective equipment, pandemic, feasibility, qRT-PCR, Infection, Masks, alcohol, virus, Mask, SARS-CoV-2 detection, RT-qPCR, Health, Asymptomatic individuals, Viral load, Face masks, SARS-CoV-2 RNA, Viral RNA, nasal swab, Quantitative, platform, Protective, Detection limit, Infectious virus, face, Xerostomia, Non-invasive, infected individuals, individual, secretion, viral loads, vRNA, symptom status, approach, asymptomatic individual, invasive, polyvinyl alcohol, qRT-PCR analysis, tested, detect, comparable, individuals, conditions, Frequently, not correlated, symptomatic individual, 【제목키워드】 detection, Mask, Non-invasive,