RT-PCR Negative COVID 19 – Akin to Smear Negative Pulmonary Tuberculosis? - A Case Report

Abstract

We report a case of 34-year-old physician who presented with classical clinicoradiological features suggestive of COVID-19 but five sequential rRT-PCR (real time Reverse Transcription Polymerase chain reaction) tests were negative. After admission, he was hypoxic and febrile. He had clinical worsening and laboratory parameters suggestive of an impending cytokine storm and he was appropriately managed as per institution protocol. Meanwhile, his antibody test for COVID 19 came positive for both Ig G and Ig M with high IgM level. He had a dramatic recovery and was discharged within 10 days. It is difficult to distinguish COVID-19 pneumonia from other viral pneumonia based on RT-PCR and CT findings alone. In this context, this case report is being published to highlight this fact.