Reported infectious period (IP) for postsymptomatic cases (T5 parameter) from virological studies where serial diagnostic tests were undertaken to infer IP (onset to ≥2 tests); tracking studies where IP is inferred from patient histories from onset to recovery or death; modelling studies where IP is reported as a prior (assumed parameter value) or an posterior estimate
| Study | Location | Parameter (days) | Central tendency reported | Variation (days; inclusion) | Comment |
| Virological studies | |||||
| Cai et al 76 | China | 12 | Median | 6–22 range | Serial testing study of n=10 mild cases RT-PCR confirmed in children. IQR: 8–15 days. |
| Cai et al 77 | China | 14 | Median | 9–19 (IQR) | Serial testing study with n=298 confirmed (RT-PCR) cases treated within hospital setting. |
| Chen et al 78 | China | 12 | Max | Single case study for a patient admitted to hospital where RT-PCR serial testing was undertaken. Patient had an additional positive test at day 17 but subsequently tested negative. | |
| Cheng et al 79 | China | 21 | Max | Case study of single patient serially tested by RT-PCR. | |
| Hu et al 7 | China | 12 | Median | 12–14 (IQR) | Serial testing study of patients who were first tested (qRT-PCR) when asymptomatic; this subset subsequently developed symptoms (n=5). |
| Kimball et al 62 | Korea | 15.5 | Median | 14–17 (range) | Serial testing of two confirmed cases via RT-PCR. Viral load highest during early phase of infection (days 3–5). |
| Kujawski et al 43 | USA | 26 | Max | Serial testing of two confirmed cases via RT-PCR. Mild to moderate symptoms. | |
| Lee et al 80 | Taiwan | 20 | Max | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of a single patient hospitalised presenting with pneumonia. | |
| Lim et al 44 | South Korea | 16 | Max | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of a single patient hospitalised presenting with pneumonia. Two clear tests day 11, virus detectible again up to day 16. | |
| Ling et al 81 | China | 9.5 | Median | 2–22 (range) | Serial testing of two confirmed cases via RT-PCR. n=66. IQR: 6–11 days, oropharyngeal sampling. Mix of adult and children. |
| Liu et al 82 | China | 11 | Median | 7–18 range | Serial testing of two confirmed cases via RT-PCR. n=10. 10–13 (IQR); adults, mild, moderate and severe cases. |
| Marchand-Senécal et al 45 | Canada | 23 | Max | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of a single patient hospitalised presenting with pneumonia. | |
| Pan et al 3 | China | 10 | Median | 8–12 range | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of two patients hospitalised. Viral loads peaked days 5–6 postonset. |
| Qu et al 83 | China | 22 | Max | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of a single patient hospitalised. | |
| Tan et al 46 | Vietnam | 16 | Max | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of a single patient hospitalised; throat sample. | |
| Thevarajan et al 47 | Australia | 7 | Max | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of a single patient hospitalised; throat sample. Highest viral load on first test at day 4 in nasopharyngeal; day 6 for sputum. | |
| Xing et al 69 | China | 14 | Median | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of three patients (children) hospitalised. Mild–moderate infection. Positive viral samples from faeces up to 4 weeks postsymptom onset. | |
| Young et al 52 | Singapore | 12.5 | Median | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of 18 patients hospitalised. Adults. Viral load peaked over testing series at day 4 since onset. | |
| Yuan et al 84 | China | 6 | Median | 4–10 (IQR) | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of 25 patients hospitalised. Children and adults. ‘Non-severe’ cases. |
| Zhou et al 74 | China | 20 | Median | 16–23 IQR | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of 191 patients hospitalised in two hospitals. Adults. 54 died. Survivors (n=137); Median (IQR) 20.0 days (17.0–24.0); non-survivors (n=54); median (IQR) 18.5 days (15.0–22.0); shedding continued until death. Inferred shedding period; 8–37 days. |
| Chen et al 85 | China | 11 | Median | 10–12 (95% CI) | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of 242 patients hospitalised. Adults. 90% mild/asymptomatic; 10% severe/critical. |
| Fang et al 60 | China | 15.7 | Mean | 6.7 (SD) | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of 24 non-ICU patients hospitalised. Adults. Nasal samples. |
| Fang et al 60 | China | 22.3 | Mean | 3.6 (SD) | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of 8 ICU patients hospitalised. Adults. Nasal samples. |
| Hill et al 57 | Scotland | 9 | Max | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of a single patient (adult) hospitalised; nasal sample (throat sample: 6 days). Mild. | |
| Le et al 86 | Vietnam | 12 | Max | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of a single patient (infant) hospitalised. Mild. | |
| Liu et al 58 | China | 10 | Max | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of patients hospitalised. Adults. Mixed mild/severe cases. n=76. 90% ‘early viral clearance’ within 10 days. | |
| Qiu et al 87 | China | 10 | Mean | 7–22 range | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of patients hospitalised. Children. n=36. Mild and moderate cases. |
| To et al 59 | Hong Kong | 25 | Max | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of patients hospitalised. n=7. Seven patients reported viral detection >20 days; viral load peaked during first week postonset of symptoms. | |
| Wu et al 88 | China | 16.1 | Mean | 6.7 (SD) | Serial testing (RT-PCR) of patients hospitalised. Adults. n=74. Severe and non-severe cases. |
| Tracking studies | |||||
| Tindale et al 31 | Singapore | 18 | Median | 9–33 range | Time from onset to discharge; range 9–33; n=53. |
| Kraemer et al 35 36 (later published as: Xu et al) | Various | 19 | Median | 3–37 range | Time from onset to discharge; range: 3–37; n=70. |
| Linton et al 34 | Wuhan, China | 13 | Median | 6–41 range | Time from onset to death; range 6–41. |
| Kraemer et al 35 36 | Japan and China | 19.25 | Mean | 12–24 range | Time from onset to death; n=4. |
| Wölfel et al 49 50 | Germany | 3–8 days | Absolute | 3–8 range | Tracked infection in mild cases in Germany, undertaking viral isolation studies to assess active replication across a number of samples sites (upper respiratory tract, blood, urine and faeces) over the duration of infection. 5% isolation success was achieved up to 9.78 (95% CI 8.45 to 21.78) days post onset; n=9. |
ICU, intensive care unit; RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase PCR.