Detecting SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA in conjunctival secretions: Is it a valuable diagnostic method of COVID‐19?

• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26219
• Publication Date: 2020-06-24T16:41:27Z
• Authors: Noemi Güemes‐Vill...; Barbara Burgos‐Bl...; Ana Arribi‐Vilela; Pedro Arriola‐Vil...; Carla M. Rico‐Luna; Ricardo Cuiña‐Sar...; Alberto Delgado‐I...; Julián García‐Feijoó
• Keywords: Coronavirus

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the presence viral RNA severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in conjunctival swab specimen coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with and without conjunctivitis establish diagnostic value reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) each case describe its clinical characteristics. A cross-sectional was conducted at Hospital Clinico San Carlos Madrid, Spain. Thirty-six subjects from COVID admission unit laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. Conjunctival swabs collected 18 RT-PCR performed. both eyes 36 (72 eyes), detecting two (5.5%). Among conjunctivitis, only one them (5.5%) showed positive results. Likewise, detected patient mean age 67.9 years (range, 28-92 years) male-to-female ratio 0.44 (16:20). days since onset COVID-19 symptoms until manifestation 8 1-24 days). duration 3 1-7 may be conjunctivitis. This revealed same rate results amongst group suggesting that ocular fluids not conditioned on samples highlights role eye as a possible route transmission disease.