Thermal Effect On The Persistence Of SARS-CoV2 Egyptian Isolates As Measured By Quantitative RT-PCR

Coronavirus pandemic that caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) appeared in China in 2019 then spread all over the world .COVID-19 firstly appeared in Egypt in Feb 2020. Studies on the thermal stability of the virus is crucial proper specimens’ transportation for molecular study. Oropharyngeal swabs were taken from recently infected military people with COVID-19 from Egypt during April 2020. Samples were aliquoted and the thermal stability of the virus was measured using quantitative real Time RT-PCR for samples treated at different temperature ranges from 20 °C to 70 °C for 2,4and 6 hours. Results shown that inactivation of the virus and significant reduction in the ΔCq values begin at 40 °C/4h. Complete virus inactivation and loss of ΔCq values were seen at 50 °C/6h and 60 °C. Tested samples showed no significant difference in thermal stability at any temp/time combinations tested.