Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 RNA Detected in Blood Donations

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Jul;26(7):1631-1633. doi: 10.3201/eid2607.200839. Epub 2020 Jun 21.

Abstract

Because of high rates of 2019 novel coronavirus disease in Wuhan, China, Wuhan Blood Center began screening for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA on January 25, 2020. We screened donations in real-time and retrospectively and found plasma samples positive for viral RNA from 4 asymptomatic donors.

Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; China; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; blood donors; coronavirus; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / genetics
  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Blood Donors*
  • Humans
  • RNA, Viral / blood*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • RNA, Viral