Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases
Online ISSN : 1884-2836
Print ISSN : 1344-6304
ISSN-L : 1344-6304

This article has now been updated. Please use the final version.

When should clinicians repeat SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR?: Repeat PCR testing targeting patients with pulmonary CT findings suggestive of COVID-19.
Kei YamamotoSho SaitoKayoko HayakawaMasao HashimotoJin TakasakiNorio Ohmagari
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS Advance online publication

Article ID: JJID.2020.531

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Abstract

Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for SARS-CoV-2 is sometimes repeated when clinicians suspect a false-negative result, but the conditions under which repeated RT-PCR testing is warranted remain unclear. We evaluated the practice of repeat RT-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 in 45 patients who retested after an initial negative PCR test. Of these, the diagnosis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was confirmed in four patients with typical chest computed tomography (CT) findings, and one patient without typical CT findings in whom the test result was strongly suspected to be false positive. We recommend repeat RT-PCR only for patients with typical CT findings of COVID-19.

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