Are two consecutive negative RT-PCR results enough to rule out COVID-19?

New Microbes and New Infections

G. Saliba¹  E. Haddad²  S. Mortada²  R. Waked²  J. Makhoul²  N. Chehata²  A. Zoghbi³  J. Choucair⁴ 

[1] Corresponding author: J. Makhoul, Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon.;Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon;Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon;Emergency Department, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon;

关键词: Coronavirus;    COVID-19;    pneumonia;    polymerase chain reaction;    SARS-CoV-2;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is redefining the world we live in, and scientists are struggling to find the best severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) diagnostic tool. Routine testing is currently performed using real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) of upper or lower respiratory tract secretions. We sought to demonstrate the importance of conducting RT-PCR using deep sampling when initial upper respiratory testing is negative in cases of high index of suspicion for COVID-19. We present the case of a 47-year-old man admitted for fever and bilateral pneumonia diagnosed via chest computed tomographic scan amidst the early peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Two RT-PCR results from nasopharyngeal swab samples were negative. A bronchoscopy was then performed, and RT-PCR testing on bronchoalveolar lavage samples yielded positive results, confirming the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia. RT-PCR samples of the lower respiratory tract likely contain a higher virus load and thus retain a higher sensitivity for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

【 授权许可】

Unknown