Repeat laboratory testing of SARS-CoV-2 is necessary to diagnose COVID-19

J Infect Public Health. 2021 Sep;14(9):1164-1168. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2021.07.008. Epub 2021 Jul 20.

Abstract

The pandemic of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 is ravaging the world. Diagnosis and isolation of persons who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 is very important medical emergency to contain the epidemic of COVID-19. To date, the diagnosis of COVID-19 is mainly depending on positive quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) results for SARS-CoV-2. In the present study, we reported that two cases with uncommon symptoms from a family cluster were ultimately diagnosed as COVID-19 after more than twice of collecting samples and qRT-PCR tests were done. It is easily to miss diagnosis of COVID-19 especially for patients with uncommon symptoms. More attention should be paid to observe the clinical characteristics of it and invent more accurate and convenient methods to detect SARS-CoV-2 as soon as possible.

Keywords: COVID-19; Laboratory; Repeat; SARS-CoV-2; Test.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques
  • False Negative Reactions
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • SARS-CoV-2*