Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

August 31, 2020

Low Utility of Repeat Real-Time PCR Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in Clinical Specimens

Category:

Topic:

Keywords (Tags):

  • Among people retested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR within 7-days of a negative test (n=1,113), 2% had a positive result. Challener et al. conclude that the decision to repeat a SARS-CoV-2 PCR should involve the revised probability of COVID-19 based on the initial negative test, an assessment of whether an alternate specimen type may provide a higher diagnostic yield, and the impact on patient care if a laboratory diagnosis is not secured.

Challener et al. (Sept 2020). Low Utility of Repeat Real-Time PCR Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in Clinical Specimens. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32861337