Viral RNA Load and Infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in Paired Respiratory and Oral Specimens from Symptomatic, Asymptomatic, or Postsymptomatic Individuals

The dynamics of infection with SARS-CoV-2 have a significant impact on virus infectivity and in the diagnostic sensitivity of molecular and classic virus detection tests. In the present study we determined the diagnostic sensitivity of paired respiratory (nasopharyngeal and anterior nares swabs) and oral secretions (saliva and sublingual swab) and assessed infectious virus shedding patterns by symptomatic, asymptomatic, or postsymptomatic individuals.