key: cord-0725334-dq5x3egs
authors: Osman, Ahmed A.; Al Daajani, Manal M.; Alsahafi, Abdullah J.
title: Re-positive COVID-19 PCR test: could it be a reinfection?
date: 2020-08-20
journal: New Microbes New Infect
DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2020.100748
sha: 5e6b6a9b9c650495b6850b9333e56da51afda402
doc_id: 725334
cord_uid: dq5x3egs

Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak started in December 2019 and rapidly spread around the globe as a major health threat. Several reports on re-positive cases subsequent to discharge from hospitals caught our attention. We aimed to highlight real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) positivity re-detection after discharge from the isolation, with special consideration on possible reasons behind it. We found that re-positive RT-qPCR assays for SARS-CoV-2 after prior negative Results might be attributed to false-negative laboratory results and prolonged viral shedding, rather than re-infection. These findings are encouraging and should be validated in a larger cohort.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak started in December 2019, 17 spread around the globe, and has become an unprecedented major health issue. As of 3 isolated in the hospital, four were positive for rectal swabs only, two were positive for 47 throat swabs, and one had positive throat and rectal swabs [7] . Another study by Li and China, despite having recovered from COVID-19, was readmitted due to positive nasal 60 swabs, sputum, and stool; however, the RT-qPCR results of throat swabs turned out to be 61 negative [14] . Lifei 

Chest CT for typical 2019-370 nCoV pneumonia: Relationship to negative RT-PCR testing

Stability issues of RT-PCR testing 373 of SARS-CoV-2 for hospitalized patients clinically diagnosed with COVID-19

COVID-19 disease with positive fecal and 376 negative pharyngeal and sputum viral tests

Prolonged presence of 379 SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in faecal samples

Positive result of SARS-CoV-2 in sputum from a 382 cured patient with COVID-19

• Re-positive RT-qPCR attributed by false-negative and prolonged viral shedding.• RT-qPCR for rectal swabs and low-dose CT as criteria for patient discharge.• Re-infection of SARS-CoV-2 not warranted.