Korean J Intern Med.  2021 Jan;36(1):11-14. 10.3904/kjim.2020.325.

Dynamics of viral load and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with positive RT-PCR results after recovery from COVID-19

• Song KH
• Kim DM
• Lee H
• Ham SY
• Oh SM
• Jeong H
• Jung J
• Kang CK
• Park JY
• Kang YM
• Kim JY
• Park JS
• Park KU
• Kim ES
• Kim HB

• KMID: 2509762
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2020.325

Abstract

Recently, the number of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who have tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2), via the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, after recovery has increased; this has caused a dilemma regarding the medical measures and policies. We evaluated the dynamics of viral load and anti-SARSCoV-2 antibodies in four patients with positive RT-PCR results after recovery. In all patients, the highest levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies were reached after about a month of the onset of the initial symptoms. Then, the IgG titers plateaued, and the IgM titers decreased, regardless of RT-PCR results. The IgG and IgM levels did not increase after the post-negative positive RT-PCR results in any of the patients. Our results reinforced that the post-negative positive RT-PCR results may be due to the detection of RNA particles rather than reinfection in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

Keyword

Reinfection; COVID-19; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2