Integrated PCR testing and extended window contact tracing system for COVID-19 to improve comprehensiveness and speed

Raymenants, Joren; Geenen, Caspar; Thibaut, Jonathan; Gorissen, Sarah; Nelissen, Klaas; André, Emmanuel

doi:10.21203/rs.3.pex-1666/v1

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…To assess the impact of different breathing protocols on the sensitivity of the breath-based RT-qPCR test, a second clinical study was conducted in ambulatory patients comparing 2 and 4 minutes of tidal breathing, 10 forced exhalations, and 1 minute of vocalizing whilst exhaling. In this trial, 56 subjects visiting a student COVID-19 test center 16 were sampled with all four breathing protocols. A rapid antigen test was used to pre-screen these participants.…”

Section: Sars-cov-2 Detection In Exhaled Particlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Molecular Detection of SARS-Cov-2 in Exhaled Breath Using a Portable Sampler

Stakenborg¹,

Raymenants

Taher³

et al. 2021

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the need for improved technologies to help control the spread of contagious pathogens. While rapid point-of-need testing plays a key role in strategies to rapidly identify and isolate infectious patients, a cornerstone for any disease-control strategy, current test approaches have significant shortcomings related to assay limitations and sample type. Direct quantification of viral shedding in exhaled particles may offer a better rapid testing approach, since SARS-CoV-2 is believed to spread mainly by aerosols. It potentially measures contagiousness directly, the sample is easy to obtain, its production can be standardized between patients, and the limited sample volume lends itself to a fast and sensitive analysis. In view of these benefits, we developed and tested an approach where exhaled particles are efficiently sampled using inertial impaction in a micromachined silicon chip, followed by an in-situ RT-qPCR molecular assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 shedding. We demonstrate that sampling subjects using a one-minute breathing protocol, yields sufficient viral RNA to detect infections with a sensitivity comparable to standard sampling methods. A longitudinal study revealed clear differences in the temporal dynamics of viral load for nasopharyngeal swab, saliva, breath, and antigen tests. Overall, after an infection, the breath-based test is the first to consistently report a negative result, putatively signaling the end of contagiousness and further emphasizing the potential of this tool to help manage the spread of airborne respiratory infections.

show abstract

Section: Sars-cov-2 Detection In Exhaled Particlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(2) For the longitudinal study, subjects were screened for recruitment by the KU Leuven contact tracing team focusing on contact tracing of the Leuven tertiary education student population 16 . Subjects needed to be recently exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case.…”

Section: Trial Design and Participants: Exhaled Particles Sampling In Student Testing Centrementioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Detection of SARS-Cov-2 in Exhaled Breath Using a Portable Sampler

Stakenborg¹,

Raymenants

Taher³

et al. 2021

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…To assess the impact of different breathing protocols on the sensitivity of the breath-based RT-qPCR test, a second clinical study was conducted in ambulatory patients comparing 2 and 4 min of tidal breathing, 10 forced exhalations, and 1 min of vocalizing whilst exhaling. In this trial, 56 subjects visiting a student COVID-19 test center ( Raymenants et al, 2021b ) were sampled with all four breathing protocols. A rapid antigen test was used to pre-screen these participants.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Subjects were asked never to go beyond their comfort zone and could stop at any moment. (2)For the longitudinal study, subjects were screened for recruitment by the KU Leuven contact tracing team focusing on contact tracing of the Leuven tertiary education student population ( Raymenants et al, 2021b ). Subjects needed to be recently exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular detection of SARS-COV-2 in exhaled breath at the point-of-need

Stakenborg

Raymenants²,

Taher³

et al. 2022

Biosensors and Bioelectronics

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…This retrospective case-ascertained study was performed on data gathered in the context of a testing and contact tracing system targeted to over 30.000 tertiary education students in Leuven, Belgium 12,13 . A standard screening protocol for student residences was introduced on October 30 th 2020 and aimed to strike a balance between effectiveness and proportionality (figure 1).…”

Section: Setting and Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in student residences: a case-ascertained study in Leuven, Belgium from October 2020 until May 2021

Vanbesien

Molenberghs

Geenen

et al. 2022

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Student residences are at high risk for rapid COVID-transmission due to crowding and frequent close contact. Aim We aimed to investigate the overall secondary attack rates (SAR) in student residences and to discern risk factors for higher transmission in order to improve the evidence base for screening efforts and preventive measures. Methods In this retrospective case-ascertained study, we analysed data from student residences screened in Leuven, Belgium between October 2020 and May 2021, following detection of a COVID-19 case in the residence. We investigated the impact on the SAR in the living units screened of delay-time until follow-up, shared use of kitchen or sanitary facilities, presence of an external infection source and occurrence of social gatherings attended by the index case. Results We included 200 residence units, representing 2326 screened residents, of which 68 units showed secondary transmission. The overall SAR was estimated at 0.0813 (95%CI 0.0705-0.0936). Both sharing sanitary facilities (p=0.04) and social gatherings attended by the index case (p=0.033) significantly impacted SAR, which increased from 3% to 13% when both risk factors were present compared to absent. Conclusions We identify risk factors which should be considered when selecting students for screening during an outbreak of COVID-19 in student residences to improve comprehensiveness and proportionality of testing. The identified risk factors improve the evidence base for preventive measures aimed at limiting social gatherings and improving ventilation of shared spaces in outbreak-prone settings. Lastly, they should be considered when designing student accommodation and other shared households.

show abstract

Integrated PCR testing and extended window contact tracing system for COVID-19 to improve comprehensiveness and speed

Cited by 8 publications

References 12 publications

Molecular Detection of SARS-Cov-2 in Exhaled Breath Using a Portable Sampler

Molecular Detection of SARS-Cov-2 in Exhaled Breath Using a Portable Sampler

Molecular detection of SARS-COV-2 in exhaled breath at the point-of-need

Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in student residences: a case-ascertained study in Leuven, Belgium from October 2020 until May 2021

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About