Is COVID-19 Transmitted Through Human Milk? Implications for Breastfeeding and Human Milk Banking-Study 1b

The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends breastfeeding during COVID-19 infection. Human milk is the best form of infant nutrition providing significant protection against many illnesses for term and preterm infants. When mothers of hospitalized infants are unable to supply their milk, the recommended supplement is human donor milk. The impact of a pandemic on human milk banking is unknown. This study seeks to address this public health issue. Donor milk will be collected from the Rogers Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank at Sinai Health System in Toronto. Samples will be analyzed for the COVID-19 virus specific nucleic acid and antibody in real-time and results will be immediately disseminated to relevant organizations to inform local, national and international guidelines surrounding donor milk banking to protect the health of infants.