Viral RNA load as determined by cell culture as a management tool for discharge of SARS-CoV-2 patients from infectious disease wards: draft

Abstract

In a preliminary clinical study we observed that the combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin was effective active against SARS-CoV-2 by shortening the duration of viral load in Covid-19 patients. It is of paramount importance to define when a treated patient can be considered as no longer contagious. Correlation between successful isolation of virus in cell culture and Ct value of quantitative RT-PCR targeting E-gene suggests that patients with Ct above 33-34 are not contagious and thus can be discharged from hospital care.