key: cord-0725696-ma9qy2qc
authors: Albert, Eliseo; Ferrer, Blanca; Torres, Ignacio; Serrano, Alicia; Alcaraz, María J.; Buesa, Javier; Solano, Carlos; Colomina, Javier; Bueno, Felipe; Huntley, Dixie; Olea, Beatriz; Valdivia, Arantxa; Navarro, David
title: Amplification of human β‐glucuronidase gene for appraising the accuracy of negative SARS‐CoV‐2 RT‐PCR results in upper respiratory tract specimens
date: 2020-06-09
journal: J Med Virol
DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26112
sha: c5d3c0ddf17c7f3e6fcd691e1b177d2c454e21f7
doc_id: 725696
cord_uid: ma9qy2qc

Real-time reverse transcription polymerase-chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the mainstay of Covid-19 diagnosis.1 Up to 30% of patients clinically suspected of Covid-19 may have initial or repeat RT-PCR negative results prior to positive test conversion, most notably when upper respiratory tract (URT) specimens are processed.2-7 This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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The current study has several limitations that should be acknowledged. First, a relatively scarce number of specimens were subjected to GUSB gene analysis. Second, consecutive specimens from a given patient could have been tested by different SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assays displaying distinct LOD. Third, regardless of the specimen cellularity, SARS-CoV-2 load may have been intrinsically lower in patients testing negative than in those testing positive, although this possibility seems unlikely given the dynamics of viral load in URT specimens during the course of Covid-19, which peaks within the first week after onset of symptoms. 10, 11 In this sense, as stated, first and second SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR negative specimens were usually collected within this time frame. In summary, our data sug- 

The authors declare no conflicts of interests. 

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