Introduction: Diagnostic procedure in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is based mainly on performing real-time-reverse transcription-polymerase chain-reaction (RT-PCR), which has been accepted as the gold standard method. In some cases, such as mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 genome, variable viral load kinetics or laboratory errors, it can be false-negative.
Case report: The case is presented of a 56-year-old man with respiratory tract symptoms, with twice negative results of real-time-reverse transcription-polymerase chain-reaction of nasopharyngeal swabs and positive chest computed tomography, with typical findings for COVID-19 pneumonia.
Conclusions: Patients with negative RT-PCR results, but with positive computed tomography findings characteristic for COVID-19, should be treated as well as those infected.
Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus Disease 2019; RT-PCR; chest computed tomography; pneumonia; real-time-reverse transcription-polymerase chain-reaction.