When should clinicians repeat SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR?: Repeat PCR testing targeting patients with pulmonary CT findings suggestive of COVID-19.

Yamamoto, Kei; Saito, Sho; Hayakawa, Kayoko; Hashimoto, Masao; Takasaki, Jin; Ohmagari, Norio

Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for SARS-CoV-2 is sometimes repeated when clinicians suspect a false-negative result, but the conditions under which repeated RT-PCR testing is warranted remain unclear. We evaluated the practice of repeat RT-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 in 45 patients who retested after an initial negative PCR test. Of these, the diagnosis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was confirmed in four patients with typical chest computed tomography (CT) findings, and one patient without typical CT findings in whom the test result was strongly suspected to be false positive. We recommend repeat RT-PCR only for patients with typical CT findings of COVID-19.