Services on Demand
Journal
Article
Spanish (pdf)
Article in xml format
Article references
Automatic translation
Send this article by e-mailIndicators
Cited by SciELO 
Access statistics
Related links
Similars in
SciELO
Share
Permalink
Gaceta Médica Boliviana
Print version ISSN 1012-2966On-line version ISSN 2227-3662
Abstract
TORRICO-VILLARROEL, Nattaly-Grecia et al. Outpatient monitoring of molecular results in patients with COVID-19 for discharge from work in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Gac Med Bol [online]. 2025, vol.48, n.2, pp.95-101. Epub Dec 31, 2025. ISSN 1012-2966. https://doi.org/10.47993/gmb.v48i2.1136.
Despite the end of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic period, the time of viral elimination in mild or asymptomatic cases is still unclear, causing confusion when granting sick leave based on laboratory results.
Objectives:
To evaluate the evolution of molecular outcomes during laboratory follow-up against SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 during the fifth wave of the pandemic in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
Methods:
A prospective longitudinal observational, analytical study was carried out by monitoring 134 outpatients with COVID-19 in 2022. They underwent molecular RT-qPCR tests against SARS-CoV-2 during the development of the infection.
Results:
In the RT-qPCR performed for the diagnosis of COVID-19, 95.5% had a Ct < 30, in the control at 14 days, even in 53.8% the viral genome was detected in the sample. Patients with a higher number of COVID-19 vaccine doses had a higher Ct than those who did not have any doses. 69,4 % of patients had 1 to 3 people diagnosed with COVID-19 in their close social environment.
Conclusions:
a significant percentage of patients with mild COVID-19 did not meet the criteria for a Ct < 30 at the time of discharge from work, still representing a high contagiousness, which results in a higher incidence of cases.
Keywords : patient discharge; COVID-19; real-time polymerase chain reaction; return to work.
