Comparison of upper respiratory viral load distributions in asymptomatic and symptomatic children diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection in pediatric hospital testing programs.

摘要: The distribution of upper respiratory viral loads (VL) in asymptomatic children infected with severe acute syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is unknown. We assessed PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values and estimated VL diagnosed nine pediatric hospital testing programs. Records for symptomatic patients positive clinical SARS-CoV-2 tests were reviewed. Ct (i) adjusted by centering each value around the institutional median from tested that assay (ii) converted to (numbers copies per milliliter) using internal or manufacturer data. Adjusted versus (118 197 aged 0 4 years, 79 97 5 9 69 75 10 13 73 109 14 17 years) compared. was 10.3 cycles higher than (P < 0.0001), 3 logs lower 0.0001); differences consistent 0.0001) across all four age brackets. These institutions sex, ethnicity, race. Asymptomatic diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 6.5; P = 0.01), a recent contact (OR, 2.3; 0.02), surveillance 2.7; 0.005) had risks having lowest quartile without, while an immunocompromised status no effect. Children infection levels virus their nasopharynx/oropharynx children, but timing relative diagnosis likely impacted children. Caution recommended when choosing diagnostic screening