: The Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 Viral RNA in Tear Fluid by New Sampling Method
Nima Koosha1 , Afsaneh Naderi Beni2 *, Alireza Peyman2 , Farzan Kianersi2 , Fereydoon Rahmani Samani3 , Zahra Naderi Beni4
- Isfahan Eye research center, Isfahan university of medical sciences, Isfahan , Iran
- Isfahan eye research center, Isfahan university of medical sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Shahrekord university of medical sciences, Shahrekord , Iran
- Shahrekord university of medical sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in tears of patients with moderate to severe infection using micropipette sampling.
Methods: In this Cross-sectional study, 25 patients with clinically confirmed moderate to severe COVID-19 Nasopharyngeal swab and tear samples using micropipette (5μL pipette tip point) were taken of each patient and analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) assay.
Main outcome measures: test results for E gene and N gene
Results: A total of 21 patients with laboratory-proven moderate to severe COVID-19 were enrolled. Tear samples were positive in 5(23.8%) patients. In patients with positive results in tear samples the difference of mean cycle threshold value (Ct-value) in tear samples as compared with nasopharyngeal soap for E gene and N gene was statistically significant (P=0.003 and p=0.015 respectively).
Conclusion: 23.8% of the patients with laboratory-proven moderate to severe COVID-19 had viral RNA in their tear samples taken by micropipette. Tear sampling using micropipette was sensitive for SARS-CoV-2 detection.
