INCONSISTENCIES IN DETECTING RDRP GENE BY RDRP CONFIRMATORY ASSAY LEADING TO FALSE NEGATIVE COVID-19 RESULTS: A CASE REPORT FROM A DISTRICT REFERRAL HOSPITAL

Autor: J. Y. Yong, M. Sinniah, M. K. Brian Cheong, N. A. Mokhtar, T. Joash
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Health and Translational Medicine. :1-5
ISSN: 2289-392X
DOI: 10.22452/jummec.sp2020no1.2
Popis: Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) should be interpreted with clinical, epidemiological history and exposure risk to avoid misdiagnosis. We report a cruise-ship worker with significant travelling history, presented with acute respiratory symptoms and radiographic evidence of viral pneumonia. Initial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene confirmatory assay was negative. Use of a more robust RT-PCR assay detected ORF1ab, N and S genes for COVID-19, and the diagnosis was supported by an IgM and IgG positive COVID-19 serology. Subsequent follow up samples which reported inconsistencies in detecting RdRp gene also raise the concern of reliability of RdRp gene as the confirmatory assay for diagnosis of COVID-19. Patient later had prolonged viral shedding beyond serological recovery, with a negative viral culture reflecting non-infectivity.
Databáze: OpenAIRE