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European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases

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Open Access 01-06-2020 | Expectoration | Brief Report

Viral RNA load as determined by cell culture as a management tool for discharge of SARS-CoV-2 patients from infectious disease wards

Authors: Bernard La Scola, Marion Le Bideau, Julien Andreani, Van Thuan Hoang, Clio Grimaldier, Philippe Colson, Philippe Gautret, Didier Raoult

Published in: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases | Issue 6/2020

Abstract

In a preliminary clinical study, we observed that the combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin was effective against SARS-CoV-2 by shortening the duration of viral load in Covid-19 patients. It is of paramount importance to define when a treated patient can be considered as no longer contagious. Correlation between successful isolation of virus in cell culture and Ct value of quantitative RT-PCR targeting E gene suggests that patients with Ct above 33–34 using our RT-PCR system are not contagious and thus can be discharged from hospital care or strict confinement for non-hospitalized patients.

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Title: Viral RNA load as determined by cell culture as a management tool for discharge of SARS-CoV-2 patients from infectious disease wards
Authors: Bernard La Scola
Marion Le Bideau
Julien Andreani
Van Thuan Hoang
Clio Grimaldier
Philippe Colson
Philippe Gautret
Didier Raoult
Publication date: 01-06-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Expectoration
Azithromycin
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
Hydroxychloroquine
Published in: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases / Issue 6/2020
Print ISSN: 0934-9723
Electronic ISSN: 1435-4373
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-020-03913-9

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