Journal of Infection and Public Health (Sep 2021)

Can the cycle threshold (Ct) value of RT-PCR test for SARS CoV2 predict infectivity among close contacts?

  • Soha Al Bayat,
  • Jesha Mundodan,
  • Samina Hasnain,
  • Mohamed Sallam,
  • Hayat Khogali,
  • Dina Ali,
  • Saif Alateeg,
  • Mohamed Osama,
  • Aiman Elberdiny,
  • Hamad Al-Romaihi,
  • Mohammed Hamad J. Al-Thani

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 9
pp. 1201 – 1205

Abstract

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Background: COVID-19 global pandemic is an unprecedented health emergency. Rapid identification and isolation of infected individuals is crucial. Qatar’s National Health Strategic Command Group adopted a cut off 30 for Ct value of RT-PCR result of a positive case to decide on duration of isolation and quarantine period for their close contacts. Aim: To test if Ct value cut off 30 reflects on the infectivity potential among close contacts. Methodology: All positive cases reported during July’ 2020 whose contacts had been traced and swabbed were extracted from database after removing personal identifiers. Close-contact was defined as anybody who has been within 2 m distance of a confirmed positive case for 15 min or more, without any personal protection equipment. Descriptive analysis was done and test of significance of difference in positivity among the contacts of those with ct 30 was done. Results: 2308 COVID-19 positive cases were followed up. More than three-quarters had a Ct value 30 or <30. Conclusion: Further studies combining PCR assays, culture studies and contact tracing are needed to define which factors can be used to reliably predict the infectious status of patients with COVID-19.

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