Johns Hopkins University

Researchers conducted a study in which they assessed breast milk from 18 women who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.  64 samples of breast milk were collected at various times both before and after the women tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.  For the samples collected, a RT-PCR assay for SARS-CoV-2 was utilized, as well as tissue culture techniques to analyze if replication competent SARS-CoV-2 developed in the breast milk samples.  Only one sample of breast milk contained SARS-CoV-2 RNA.  None of the breast milk samples contained replication competent SARS-CoV-2, including the one sample that contained viral RNA.  Replication competent SARS-CoV-2 was manually added to two breast milk samples, but after Holder pasteurization, no viral RNA or any replication competent SARS-CoV-2 was detected in the samples.  Thus, the results of this study suggest that it is safe to feed breast milk to babies.  



Evaluation for SARS-CoV-2 in Breast Milk From 18 Infected Women

Chambers, C., Krogstad, P., Bertrand, K., Contreras, D., Tobin, N. H., Bode, L., &amp; Aldrovandi, G. (2020). Evaluation for SARS-CoV-2 in Breast Milk From 18 Infected Women. Jama. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.15580

Learn Before

Related