Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 in semen, seminal plasma, and final fraction with spermatozoa of COVID-19 patients at acute stage of infection

There is limited information about the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen. Out of sixteen studies, only one detected SARS-CoV-2 in semen of patients with acute infection (n=4) or recovering (n=2). Here we assessed SARS-CoV-2 presence in semen samples of positive COVID-19 patients at acute stage of infection. Semen specimens were provided within 24h of the positive nasopharyngeal swabs. Aliquots of native semen, seminal plasma and final fraction containing spermatozoa were screened for SARS-CoV-2. Manual or airborne contamination during semen sampling were explored by qPCR.