False-positive COVID-19 results: hidden problems and costs

RT-PCR tests to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA are the operational gold standard for detecting COVID-19 disease in clinical practice. RT-PCR assays in the UK have analytical sensitivity and specificity of greater than 95%, but no single gold standard assay exists.1Watson J Whiting PF Brush JE Interpreting a covid-19 test result.BMJ. 2020; 369m1808Crossref PubMed Scopus (502) Google Scholar, 2Mayers C...