Individuals with suspected COVID-19 and negative initial testing should undergo further testing.
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Lower respiratory tract RNA testing by bronchoalveolar lavage may confirm the diagnosis.
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Plasma RNA testing may serve as an adjunctive modality for confirmation of COVID-19 diagnosis.
Abstract
We present the case of an inpatient with pneumonia and repeatedly negative nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 testing. In such challenging cases, alternative diagnostic options include lower respiratory tract and plasma SARS-CoV-2 RNA testing, of which the latter may be particularly useful where bronchoscopy is deferred due to clinical factors or transmission risk.
