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Placenta Swab Research Letter
Placenta Swab Research Letter
2 Christina A. Penfield, MD, MPH1; Sara G. Brubaker, MD, MS1; Meghana A. Limaye,
3 MD1; Jennifer Lighter, MD2; Adam J. Ratner MD, MPH3; Kristen M. Thomas, MD4;
5 1
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, NYU
6 Langone Health
7 2
Department of Infection Prevention and Control and Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric
9 3
Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at
11 4
Department of Pathology, NYU Langone Health
12 The authors report no conflict of interest and no funding for the study
13
14 Corresponding Author:
21 Christina.penfield@nyulangone.org
22 (619) 966-8906
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Accepted Manuscript American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM
29 Introduction: Since the first reports of the emergence of the novel coronavirus SARS-
30 CoV-2 and its associated disease (COVID-19), concerns remain about whether the virus
31 is transmissible in pregnant women from the mother to the fetus during either the
32 antepartum period or the process of labor and delivery. One recent review reported that
33 in a small number of cases, two PCR swabs of the placenta were sent in additional to
34 neonatal and cord blood testing, and both placental PCR swabs were negative.1 Other
35 studies have demonstrated the finding of SARS-CoV2 IgM in neonates born to mothers
36 diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy,2,3 findings that may indicate vertical
38 SARS-CoV2 RNA PCR swab results after delivery to a series of symptomatic mothers
40 Methods: IRB approval was obtained. All pregnant patients diagnosed with COVID-19
41 who gave birth between March 1, 2020 and April 20, 2020 at NYU Langone Health were
42 identified by a search of the electronic medical record. Charts were reviewed for
43 documentation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA RT-PCR testing sent from either the placenta or
44 membranes within 30 minutes following delivery. PCR testing for SARS-COV-2 was
45 performed using the cobas SARS-CoV-2 assay (Roche) or the Cepheid Xpert Xpress
46 assay. Placental swabs were obtained from the amniotic surface after clearing the surface
47 of maternal blood (placental PCR). Membrane swabs were obtained from between the
48 amnion and chorion after manual separation of the membranes (membrane PCR).
49 Maternal COVID-19 illness was categorized as mild, severe, or critical.4 The time
50 interval from maternal diagnosis of COVID-19 to delivery was calculated in days. Infants
51 were tested with nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 PCR between days of life 1 and
Accepted Manuscript American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM
52 5 while hospitalized. Hospitalized infants were also assessed for clinical signs and
54 Results: Of 32 COVID-19 positive pregnant patients who gave birth in this timeframe,
55 placental or membrane swabs were sent from 11 patients (Table). Three of 11 swabs were
56 positive. None of the infants tested positive for SARS-CoV2 on days of life 1 through 5,
59 positive for SARS-CoV-2, all in women with moderate to severe COVID-19 illness at
60 time of delivery. This is the first study to demonstrate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA
62 transmission, our findings raise the possibility of intrapartum viral exposure. Given the
63 mixing of maternal and fetal fluid and tissue at time of delivery, the origin of the detected
65 maternal blood, amniotic fluid, or COVID-19 infection of the membranes and amniotic
66 sac. For those infants who were delivered vaginally, contamination with vaginal
67 secretions is also a possible source, although prior studies on vaginal secretions have
69 Although all of our neonates tested negative in the first 5 days of life, many were born via
70 cesarean deliveries with decreased length of exposure to these tissues, which may be
72 nasopharyngeal testing immediately after delivery may not be the ideal approach to
73 evaluate vertical transmission if exposure occurs at the time of delivery, as the virus may
74 require a longer incubation period before these swabs convert to positive. In summary,
Accepted Manuscript American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM
76 suggests the need for further research into the possibility of vertical transmission.
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Accepted Manuscript American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM
82 References
85 Coronavirus Infections and Pregnancy Outcomes. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020.
92 of 72314 Cases From the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
93 JAMA. 2020.
94 5. Qiu L, Liu X, Xiao M, et al. SARS-CoV-2 is not detectable in the vaginal fluid of
96 6. Cui P, Chen Z, Wang T, et al. Clinical features and sexual transmission potential
98 medRxiv. 2020:2020.2002.2026.20028225.
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Accepted Manuscript American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM