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Quantitative Parvovirus B19 PCR and Clinical Correlates in Children: Implications for Infection Prevention

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2026

Elizabeth Tocco
Affiliation:
Texas Children’s Hospital
Erin Nicholson
Affiliation:
Baylor College of Medicine
Josalyn Curl
Affiliation:
Texas Children’s Hospital
Vincent Ferreira
Affiliation:
Texas Children’s Hospital
Duc Nguyen
Affiliation:
Baylor College of Medicine
Ankhi Dutta
Affiliation:
Baylor College of Medicine

Abstract

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Background: Parvovirus B19 causes a spectrum of illness in children, from asymptomatic infection to severe organ-invasive disease, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. Current infection prevention guidelines recommend prolonged isolation for patients with chronic infection, yet no validated quantitative PCR threshold exists to guide discontinuation of precautions. This uncertainty may lead to extended isolation and resource utilization. Objective: To evaluate the association between quantitative parvovirus B19 PCR levels and clinical manifestations in pediatric patients and explore implications for infection control practices. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients aged 0–18 years who underwent quantitative parvovirus B19 PCR testing in a quaternary care hospital system from January–December 2024. Demographics, clinical features, and treatment were abstracted from the electronic medical record. Encounter-level and patient-level characteristics were summarized using Fisher’s exact and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Multivariable generalized estimating equation (GEE) models assessed factors associated with symptomatic infection. Optimal viral load cut-off associated with symptomatology was determined using Youden’s index. A patient with symptomatic infection was defined as having one or more signs/symptoms associated with clinical parvovirus B19 infection (fever, rash, arthropathy, cytopenias, carditis, hepatitis, etc.) that was not explained by a pre-existing underlying condition. Results: Among 103 patients (median age 7 years [IQR 4–11]), 224 encounters were analyzed; 57% were symptomatic (Table 1). Median viral load was 647,500 IU/mL (IQR 6,800–15,500,000) in symptomatic encounters versus 2,000 IU/mL (IQR 900–8,400) in asymptomatic (p<0.001). An optimal threshold of ?25,000 IU/mL (log10 ?4.4) was strongly associated with symptoms (adjusted OR [aOR] 6.54, 95% CI 1.98–21.64; p=0.002). Additional predictors associated with symptoms included hemoglobinopathy (aOR <700; p<0.001) and diagnostic testing indication (aOR 155.01, p<0.001). Viral load was not associated with organ-invasive disease or treatment response. Conclusions: Higher parvovirus B19 viral loads are associated with symptomatic infection, but not with organ invasion or treatment initiation. A threshold of ?25,000 IU/mL may inform future infection prevention guidance, potentially helping to modify isolation practices and improving resource utilization.

A table comparing quantitative parvovirus B19 testing encounter-level characteristics among total, asymptomatic, and symptomatic groups.

Information

Type
Non-Respiratory Viral Infections*
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America