A cautionary tale of false-negative nasopharyngeal COVID-19 testing. (2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bullis, Sean S.M.; Crothers, Jessica W.; Wayne, Shawn; Hale, Andrew J.
• Is Part Of: IDCases. Volume 20(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020
• Subjects: SARS-CoV-2 -- COVID-19 -- Nasopharyngeal swab; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Case Reports; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2020.e00791
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-2509

Abstract

Abstract: There remains diagnostic uncertainty regarding the sensitivity of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in detection of SARS-CoV-2 from nasopharyngeal specimens. We present a case where two nasopharyngeal specimens were negative, followed by a positive sputum sample. Serial testing for COVID-19 is indicated in patients with high pretest probability of disease.