Open AccessCharacteristics of patients with suspected COVID-19 pneumonia and repeatedly negative RT-PCR
Author(s) -
Paula Navarro-Carrera,
Patricia Roces-Álvarez,
Juan Carlos Ramos-Ramos,
Dolores Montero,
Itsaso Losantos,
Beatriz Díaz-Pollán,
Silvia García Bujalance
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
access microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2516-8290
DOI - 10.1099/acmi.0.000279
Subject(s) - serology , medicine , pneumonia , context (archaeology) , covid-19 , epidemiology , immunology , gastroenterology , virology , antibody , biology , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , paleontology
Objectives. Challenges remain and there are still a sufficient number of cases with epidemiological, clinical features and radiological data suggestive of COVID-19 pneumonia that persist negative in their RT-PCR results. The aim of the study was to define the distinguishing characteristics between patients developing a serological response to SARS-CoV-2 and those who did not. Methods. RT-PCR tests used were TaqPath 2019-nCoV Assay Kit v1 (ORF-1ab, N and S genes) from Thermo Fisher Diagnostics and SARS-COV-2 Kit (N and E genes) from Vircell. Serological response was tested using the rapid SARS-CoV2 IgG/IgM Test Cassette from T and D Diagnostics Canada and CMC Medical Devices and Drugs, S.L, CE. Results. In this cross-sectional study, we included a cohort of 52 patients recruited from 31 March 2020 to 23 April 2020. Patients with positive serology had an older average age (73.29) compared to those who were negative (54.82) ( P <0.05). Sat0 2 in 27 of 34 patients with positive serology were below 94% ( P <0.05). There was a frequency of 1.5% negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCRs during the study period concurring with 36.7% of positivity. Conclusions. Clinical features and other biomarkers in a context of a positive serology can be considered crucial for diagnosis.