Viral Load Calculation as an Infection Stage Indicator to effective COVID-19 Management

Abstract

Abstract Background: The treatment of patients afflicted by Covid-19 encountered significant challenges due to the short cycle of SARS-CoV-2 infection, lasting 15-20 days, allowing little time for decisive interventions in severe cases. Initial management relies on tests and symptoms, introducing uncertainty due to logarithmic viral multiplication. The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed millions of lives, despite vaccines and antiviral therapies. Methods:The study proposes the sequential performance of two quantitative RT-PCR tests in SARS-CoV-2 patients to position them on the infection curve. Two cohorts of clinical studies were analyzed (NCT04668235 and NCT05033145) to improve treatment in moderate and mild COVID-19 cases. Viral load was quantified every 48 hours, providing insights into viral behavior. Results and Conclusion:The results demonstrate a reliable relationship between improvement, stabilization, or deterioration after two tests every 48 hours. RT-PCR can elucidate the disease's course, provided the same equipment and kit are used. DDPCR confirms RT-PCR data, overcoming limitations in logarithmic analysis. Calculating viral load at two distinct time points enables the assessment of the patient's clinical stage relative to the infection, aiding effective disease management, whether it is progressing or regressing. This strategy has the potential to become a standard in other short-cycle viral diseases.