Positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay results in patients recovered from COVID-19: Report of two cases

Huang, Ke-Xin; He, Cheng; Yang, Yan-Li; Huang, Di; Jiang, Zhi-Xia; Li, Bang-Guo; Liu, Heng

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread around the globe. On February 28, 2020, the World Health Organization adjusted the risk of spread and impact of COVID-19 to “very high” at the global level. Studies have mainly focused on the etiology, epidemiology, and treatment of COVID-19 to limit further spread and the negative impact of the disease, while less attention has been devoted to the follow-up and reexamination of patients who recovered from COVID-19 or were released from quarantine. CASE SUMMARY: This study reports two cases where patients who had negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results and met the criteria for discharge subsequently had positive RT-PCR test results. The clinical manifestations and computed tomography (CT) findings of these patients were examined. The conversion of RT-PCR test results in these two patients may be related to false-negative and false-positive outcomes of the test. CT images helped track improvement of pulmonary lesions. CONCLUSION: The timing of discharge of COVID-19 patients should be determined by comprehensive analysis of CT images and RT-PCR test results.