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University Hospitals researchers to test autopsy specimens for COVID-19

The goal is to see if the virus may have been the cause of death in those before the disease rampantly spread.

CLEVELAND — University Hospitals researchers are now able to extract coronavirus genetic material from autopsy specimens. The goal is to see if the virus may have been the cause of death in those before the disease rampantly spread.

Also, UH is now offering a service that if someone dies at home of apparent natural causes, they can check to see if the virus may have been present or a cause of death.

"We will do autopsies that are swab only if the circumstance is appropriate and we are accepting all autopsies now, not all centers are equipped to handle infectious disease autopsies, here at UH we are able to do these infectious cases," Dr. Hannah Gilmore told 3News. 

Because the virus has begun to mutate slightly, UH research is also able to identify markers that can help determine where the virus came from, be it New York, California or China. 

Click here for more information.

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