Stool Test Could Better Detect COVID-19 than Traditional Nose Swabs Due to Prolonged Gut Viral Infection
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 08 Sep 2020 |
Image: Researchers from the Faculty of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Photo courtesy of The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Researchers have found for the first time that COVID-19 patients have active and prolonged gut viral infection, suggesting that stool tests could be more safe, accurate and non-invasive than traditional nose swabs in detecting coronavirus.
Researchers from the Faculty of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Sha Tin District, Hong Kong) found that COVID-19 patients have active and prolonged gut viral infection, even in the absence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. After respiratory clearance of coronavirus, the activity of viral infection and replication still persists in the gut. To better understand the activity and infectivity of COVID-19 virus in the GI tract during the disease’s course, the researchers investigated the stool samples of 15 COVID-19 patients in Hong Kong. The researchers found that there was active gut viral infection in seven patients even in the absence of GI symptoms. Three patients continued to display active viral infection up to six days after clearance of the virus from their respiratory samples. The researchers also found that gut microbiota of patients with high SARS-CoV-2 infectivity were characterized by enrichment of pathogens and loss of “good” bacteria that are capable of producing short-chain fatty acid.
Earlier studies have found that the COVID-19 virus was detectable in the stool samples of all patients, regardless of the degree of illness. The researchers undertook screening of more than 128 stool samples of Hong Kong airport arrivals that revealed six children with confirmed COVID-19 infection and a detection rate of 0.28%. The researchers believe that stool screening test can help identify asymptomatic people carrying the COVID-19 virus as early as possible in order to stop its spread in the community.
“The viral load in the stool of infant and children is many times higher than that in adults, and could be equivalent to that of adult respiratory samples,” said Professor Paul Kay Sheung CHAN, Chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Associate Director of the Centre for Gut Microbiota Research. “The activity of viral infection and replication also persist longer in the guts of infant and children. Stool specimens are more convenient, safe and non-invasive to collect in the paediatric population and can give accurate results. This makes stool test a better option for COVID-19 screening in babies, young children and those whose respiratory samples are difficult to collect.”
Related Links:
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Researchers from the Faculty of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Sha Tin District, Hong Kong) found that COVID-19 patients have active and prolonged gut viral infection, even in the absence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. After respiratory clearance of coronavirus, the activity of viral infection and replication still persists in the gut. To better understand the activity and infectivity of COVID-19 virus in the GI tract during the disease’s course, the researchers investigated the stool samples of 15 COVID-19 patients in Hong Kong. The researchers found that there was active gut viral infection in seven patients even in the absence of GI symptoms. Three patients continued to display active viral infection up to six days after clearance of the virus from their respiratory samples. The researchers also found that gut microbiota of patients with high SARS-CoV-2 infectivity were characterized by enrichment of pathogens and loss of “good” bacteria that are capable of producing short-chain fatty acid.
Earlier studies have found that the COVID-19 virus was detectable in the stool samples of all patients, regardless of the degree of illness. The researchers undertook screening of more than 128 stool samples of Hong Kong airport arrivals that revealed six children with confirmed COVID-19 infection and a detection rate of 0.28%. The researchers believe that stool screening test can help identify asymptomatic people carrying the COVID-19 virus as early as possible in order to stop its spread in the community.
“The viral load in the stool of infant and children is many times higher than that in adults, and could be equivalent to that of adult respiratory samples,” said Professor Paul Kay Sheung CHAN, Chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Associate Director of the Centre for Gut Microbiota Research. “The activity of viral infection and replication also persist longer in the guts of infant and children. Stool specimens are more convenient, safe and non-invasive to collect in the paediatric population and can give accurate results. This makes stool test a better option for COVID-19 screening in babies, young children and those whose respiratory samples are difficult to collect.”
Related Links:
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Latest COVID-19 News
- New Immunosensor Paves Way to Rapid POC Testing for COVID-19 and Emerging Infectious Diseases
- Long COVID Etiologies Found in Acute Infection Blood Samples
- Novel Device Detects COVID-19 Antibodies in Five Minutes
- CRISPR-Powered COVID-19 Test Detects SARS-CoV-2 in 30 Minutes Using Gene Scissors
- Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis Linked to COVID-19
- Novel SARS CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test Validated for Diagnostic Accuracy
- New COVID + Flu + R.S.V. Test to Help Prepare for `Tripledemic`
- AI Takes Guesswork Out Of Lateral Flow Testing
- Fastest Ever SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test Designed for Non-Invasive COVID-19 Testing in Any Setting
- Rapid Antigen Tests Detect Omicron, Delta SARS-CoV-2 Variants
- Health Care Professionals Showed Increased Interest in POC Technologies During Pandemic, Finds Study
- Set Up Reserve Lab Capacity Now for Faster Response to Next Pandemic, Say Researchers
- Blood Test Performed During Initial Infection Predicts Long COVID Risk
- Low-Cost COVID-19 Testing Platform Combines Sensitivity of PCR and Speed of Antigen Tests
- Finger-Prick Blood Test Identifies Immunity to COVID-19
- Quick Test Kit Determines Immunity Against COVID-19 and Its Variants