RADx Tech COVID-19 Viral Dynamics/COVID Detect

The COVID Detect/COVID-19 viral dynamics study was planned and performed to assess SARS-CoV-2 viral dynamics in early infection, accuracy/persistence of SARS-CoV-2 antigen/PCR testing, clinical aspects of mild COVID-19, and potential SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics or risk factors. This study included a cohort of adult students and employees of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and Northwestern University who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 as part of campus surveillance programs (isolation participants) or close contacts (particularly roommates) of individuals testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 (quarantine participants). Isolation participants were enrolled within 24 hours of positive testing and quarantine participants were enrolled within 5 days of last known exposure. All participants were required to have negative campus surveillance testing within 7 days of enrollment. Isolation participants completed daily surveys and collected observed nasal swabs and saliva (UIUC only) for 14 days. Quarantine participants completed daily surveys and collected samples for 7 days if SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR remained negative; if converted positive by SARS-CoV-2 PCR, they collected daily samples for full 14 days. Each day of sample collection were analyzed as follows: nasal swab for SARS-CoV-2 POC Quidel antigen, nasal swab into VTM for SARS-CoV-2 Roche RT-PCR, saliva for SARS-CoV-2 PCR (UIUC only), and nasal swab into VTM for storage and subsequent whole genome virus sequencing and viral culture assay.