A man in his eighties with gait problems and elevated CRP

Area of Science:

• Medical Diagnostics
• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Virology

Background:

• Rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 is vital for hospital patient isolation and treatment.
• False positive diagnostic test results pose significant risks to patient safety.
• Accurate COVID-19 testing is essential in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the clinical implications of a false positive SARS-CoV-2 test result.
• To emphasize the importance of pretest probability in diagnostic test interpretation.
• To underscore the risks associated with cohort isolation for COVID-19 patients.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of an elderly male patient admitted with nonspecific symptoms.
• Initial SARS-CoV-2 screening using automated reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
• Subsequent serial RT-PCR testing guided by laboratory personnel due to low clinical suspicion.

Main Results:

• The patient initially tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via automated RT-PCR.
• Multiple subsequent RT-PCR tests performed by laboratory personnel yielded negative results.
• The patient, despite risk factors, remained clinically and virologically negative for COVID-19.

Conclusions:

• False positive SARS-CoV-2 results can lead to inappropriate patient management and isolation.
• Diagnostic test results must be interpreted alongside clinical context and pretest probability.
• Cohort isolation poses risks and should be carefully considered, especially with uncertain test results.