The patient from Alicante who was isolated at the Hospital Clínic in Barcelona due to possible infection has been discharged after a second PCR test came back negative. The first test had already ruled out the presence of the virus, and now the second confirms the absence of infection. The woman, identified as a contact of a confirmed case, had been under monitoring since her preventive admission.
PCR as a key tool in epidemiological surveillance 🧬
Polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, is the gold standard for detecting SARS-CoV-2. This technique amplifies specific sequences of viral RNA to identify even minimal loads of the pathogen. In this case, the two consecutive negative tests, performed 48 hours apart, follow the protocol established by health authorities to rule out false negatives. The accuracy of the method depends on the quality of the sample and the timing of collection.
The virus takes an early vacation to Alicante 🏖️
It seems the coronavirus decided not to stop in Barcelona and preferred to take a break in Alicante, but without settling in. The patient, after two negative PCR tests, can now breathe easy and stop keeping the Clínic's thermometers company. The worst part of the whole process was probably the nasal swab. At least the bug didn't go beyond being a news bulletin threat.