Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34710718›Full record

ArticlePublic health2021

False-negative real-time polymerase chain reaction tests in COVID-19 patients: an epidemiological analysis of 302 patients.

V Caramello, A Macciotta, A V De Salve, A Mussa, A M De Leo, F Bar, D Panno, F Nota, C Y G Ling, F Solitro and 3 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Public health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

V CaramelloEmergency Department and High Dependency Unit, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, Turin, Orbassano, Italy. Electronic address: valeria.caramello@yahoo.it.
A MacciottaDepartment of Clinical and Biological Science, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, Turin, Italy.
A V De SalveEmergency Department and High Dependency Unit, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, Turin, Orbassano, Italy.
A MussaEmergency Department and High Dependency Unit, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, Turin, Orbassano, Italy.
A M De LeoEmergency Department and High Dependency Unit, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, Turin, Orbassano, Italy.
F BarEmergency Department and High Dependency Unit, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, Turin, Orbassano, Italy.
D PannoEmergency Department and High Dependency Unit, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, Turin, Orbassano, Italy.
F NotaEmergency Department and High Dependency Unit, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, Turin, Orbassano, Italy.
C Y G LingEmergency Department and High Dependency Unit, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, Turin, Orbassano, Italy.
F SolitroRadiology Department, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, Turin, Orbassano, Italy.
F RicceriDepartment of Clinical and Biological Science, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, Turin, Italy; Epidemiology Unit, Regional Health Service ASL TO3, Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
C SacerdoteUnit of Cancer Epidemiology, Città della Salute e della Scienza University Hospital, Turin, Italy.
A BoccuzziEmergency Department and High Dependency Unit, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, Turin, Orbassano, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesPatients who arrive at the emergency department (ED) with COVID-19, who test negative at the first real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), represent a clinical challenge. This study aimed to evaluate if the clinical manifestation at presentation, the laboratory and imaging results, and the prognosis of COVID-19 differ in patients who tested negative at the first RT-PCR compared with those who tested positive and also to evaluate if comorbid conditions patient-related or the period of arrival are associated with negative testing. STUDY

designWe retrospectively collected clinical data of patients who accessed the ED from March 1 to May 15, 2020.

methodsWe compared clinical variables, comorbid conditions, and clinical outcomes in the two groups by univariate analysis and logistic regression.

resultsPatients who tested negative at the first RT-PCR showed a higher prevalence of cardiopathy, immunosuppression, and diabetes, as well as a higher leukocyte and lower lymphocyte counts compared with patients who tested positive. A bilateral interstitial syndrome and a typical pattern at computed tomography scan were prevalent in the test-negative group. Test-negative patients were more likely to be admitted to the hospital but less likely to need admission in a high level of care ward. The false-negative rate increased from March to May.

conclusionFalse-negative RT-PCR COVID-19 patients present a similar spectrum of symptoms compared with positive cohort, but more comorbidities. Imaging helps to identify them. True positives had a higher risk of serious complications.

Indexed as

COVID-19Cohort StudiesHumansReal-Time Polymerase Chain ReactionRetrospective StudiesSARS-CoV-2COVID-19Emergency departmentFalse-negative RT-PCR

Identifiers

PMID34710718
PMCPMC8455250

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.