AUTHOR=Kong Xiang-Qi , Wang Yong-Jing , Fang Zan-Xi , Yang Tian-Ci , Tong Man-Li 

TITLE=False-Positive Results of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR in Oropharyngeal Swabs From Vaccinators

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.847407

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2022.847407

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the gold standard for diagnosing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, RT-PCR may yield false-positive results, leading to unnecessary countermeasures. Here, we report a “positive” nucleic acid test on a 10-pooled sample during routine screening that caused many adverse societal effects, and financial and resource losses. However, they were subsequently determined to be case of vaccine contamination. This case study increases awareness of false-positive RT-PCR results for SARS-CoV-2, especially when participants are vaccinators. Moreover, it could provide relevant suggestions to prevent recurrence of such incidents.