A panel of experts convened by the National Institutes of Health has recommended standardized criteria to define infection of the placenta with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

The panel also offers guidance for the best methods to evaluate placental SARS-CoV-2 infection for research and clinical applications.

Their recommendations aim to help streamline research on SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and ultimately optimize clinical care.

SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy has been linked to complications that may involve or be reflected in the placenta, including preeclampsia and preterm birth.

To date, researchers have used a variety of methods to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection of the placenta, making it difficult to compare results from different studies and to establish definitive scientific evidence about the risks of placental infection.

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