Medical Case Reports

Re-Detectable Sars-CoV-2-An Emerging Problem in Recovered Sars-CoV-2 Patients in COVID Pandemic

Re-positive or Re-detectable SARS-CoV-2 (RD SARS-CoV-2) in recovered COVID-19 patients is a major issue in containment of COVID pandemic at present. This can be classified as real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) interpretation fault (false-negative or false-positive RT-PCR tests), re-activation or relapse of dormant virus or re-infection with SARS-CoV-2 either same or different variant. Though the literature has many documented cases on RD SARS-CoV-2 but the true epidemiology, etiology, clinico-demography, pathophysiology, and outcome of these cases are yet to be elucidated.

To define RD SARS-CoV-2 it’s important to understand the standard discharge criteria for SARS-CoV-2 patients which include both the test based and the symptom based strategy. Currently, the WHO criteria and CDC criteria for releasing COVID-19 patients from isolation without requiring re-testing specify, 10days of period after a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic patients; while in symptomatic cases, patient should have at least three additional symptom-free days.

Author(s): Jyotsna Agarwal and Jaya Garg

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