Indian Journal of Ophthalmology | 2021

COVID-19 positivity rate in corneal tissue donors – A cause for concern!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Abstract


Purpose: To determine the postmortem positivity for COVID-19 among voluntary eye donors who had been certified to have died of non-COVID-19 causes. Methods: All donors who donated their corneas (from March 2021 onward) were assessed for COVID-19 positivity tested by nasopharyngeal swab reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. Relevant screening history was taken prior to collection. Strict precautions were taken during the retrieval as per the guidelines issued by the National Program for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment and the Eye Bank Association of India, and the tissues were handled as per standard operating protocol. Results: 85 eye calls were attended during this period, of which 56 were home-based and 29 were from a hospital setting. Samples from 12 of the former group of donors were found to be positive for COVID-19 (14%). Conclusion: This study highlights the possibility of postmortem RT-PCR positivity in voluntary corneal tissue donors without a prior history of symptoms, signs, or diagnosis of illness suggestive of COVID-19. It is recommended that postmortem testing of donors should be done by RT-PCR for retrievals made during the pandemic.

Volume 69
Pages 2808 - 2811
DOI 10.4103/ijo.IJO_1163_21
Language English
Journal Indian Journal of Ophthalmology

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