SARS-CoV-2 Testing Before International Airline Travel, December 2020 to May 2021

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Aaron J Tande, Mayo Clinic, Rochester; Matthew J Binnicker, Mayo Clinic, Rochester; Henry Ting, Emory University; Carlos del Rio, Emory University; Lindsey Jalil, Delta Air Lines; Matthew Brawner, Delta Air Lines; Peter W Carter, Delta Air Lines; Kathleen Toomey, Georgia Department of Health; Nilay D Shah, Mayo Clinic, Rochester; Elie F Berbari, Mayo Clinic, Rochester
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-11-01
• Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2021 The Authors
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2021.08.019
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: MAYO CLINIC PROCEEDINGS
• Volume: 96
• Issue: 11
• Start Page: 2856
• End Page: 2860
• Keywords: Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Science & Technology; General & Internal Medicine; Medicine, General & Internal
• Research Categories: Biology, Microbiology

Abstract

Although there have been several case reports and simulation models of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission associated with air travel, there are limited data to guide testing strategy to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and transmission onboard commercial aircraft. Among 9853 passengers with a negative SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test performed within 72 hours of departure from December 2020 through May 2021, five (0.05%) passengers with active SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified with rapid antigen tests and confirmed with rapid molecular test performed before and after an international flight from the United States to Italy. This translates to a case detection rate of 1 per 1970 travelers during a time of high prevalence of active infection in the United States. A negative molecular test for SARS-CoV-2 within 72 hours of international airline departure results in a low probability of active infection identified on antigen testing during commercial airline flight.