The kinetics of viral load and antibodiesto SARS-CoV-2

Abstract Objectives To understand persistence of the virus in body fluids and immune response of infected host to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), an agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods We determined the kinetics of viral load in several body fluids through real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR), serum antibodies of IgA, IgG and IgM by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and neutralizing antibodies by microneutralization assay in 35 COVID-19 cases from two hospitals in Guangdong, China. Results We found higher viral loads and prolonged shedding of virus RNA in severe cases of COVID-19 in nasopharyngeal (1.3×106 vs 6.4×104, p Conclusions We revealed a prolonged shedding of virus RNA in upper respiratory tract, and evaluated the consistency production of IgG, IgA, IgM and neutralizing antibodies in COVID-19 cases.