SARS-CoV-2 infection: diagnostic testing results occasionally require special attention

Emerg Microbes Infect. 2020 Dec;9(1):1955-1957. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1814165.

Abstract

The case refers to a 51-year-old symptomatic man with a new SARS-CoV-2 RNA positive nasopharyngeal swab after two negative ones and the lack of significant development of antibody response measured by different diagnostic serological test. Our case underlines that a discrepancy between clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection and results from diagnostic tests may exist. This concept is rapidly emerging and supports the need for a deep knowledge of available and "in development" tests for a correct interpretation of their findings.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2 infection; SARS-CoV-2 molecular tests; SARS-CoV-2 serological tests; diagnostic tests; lack of antibodies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology*
  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • False Negative Reactions
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / therapeutic use
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Quarantine
  • Recurrence
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Serologic Tests
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Hydroxychloroquine