Negative test despite Covid symptoms a worry
Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, April 16
After having temperature for a few days, Sunny Verma (42) was taken to a private hospital where he was tested for Covid. His report came negative. He was referred to another hospital where he was admitted, but his condition deteriorated and he died after three days. All through his treatment his Covid report (he was tested twice) remained negative.
3,915 cases, 51 deaths
Chandigarh: Punjab continued to be on the edge with 3,915 new Covid cases and 51 deaths. Ludhiana and Mohali continued to take the state tally up with 598 and 560 cases, respectively. Bathinda, which witnessed 266 fresh cases, has the highest positivity rate of 24.77 per cent, followed by Mohali (16.63) and Amritsar (15.90). The highest number of deaths was reported from Amritsar (7) and Ludhiana (6). The total active cases in the state stand at 30,745. TNS
Kulwant Singh from Chabbewal took to Facebook to narrate a similar ordeal. His father — who tested negative for Covid — was admitted to a private hospital and died a few days later. Kulwant also made a complaint to the Jalandhar DC in this regard.
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MP Harsimrat Badal has tested +ve for Covid. She had held some meetings with SAD workers in Bathinda on Thursday
Persisting Covid symptoms despite patient testing negative has made doctors worried and the administration is flooded with complaints. Doctors say as per ICMR guidelines, the treatment for Covid can’t be initiated unless a person tests positive.
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Rishi Verma, brother-in-law of Sunny Verma, said, “Before being admitted to the hospital, my brother tested negative. After being admitted, the RT-PCR test also came out negative, yet he was kept in a Covid ward. However, he was cremated without Covid protocol.”
Another patient said, “My father was tested for Covid and his report came negative. He walked to the hospital and was normal on the first day, but within two days he died. Doctors told us he died of typhoid.”
Dr Rajesh Baskar, state nodal officer, Covid, said, “The accuracy of the RT-PCR samples depends a lot on the quality of the nasopharyngeal sample being taken. An inappropriately taken sample is bound to test negative. Also, timing matters. Hospitals should treat a patient as a Covid suspect if they display symptoms despite testing negative.”
He added, “So far we have no doubts regarding the specificity of the RT-PCR tests. If such incidents increase, the issue will be raised.”
Dr BS Johal of Johal Hospital, Jalandhar, said, “In at least 20% cases, symptoms are seen in a patient despite RT-PCR report testing negative. In these patients, symptoms are present, CT scan findings are suggestive of Covid, but the patient tests negative. This is happening because in the new strain, patients’ throat and nasal swabs at times prove inadequate to establish Covid.”
Dr TP Singh, nodal officer, Covid, Jalandhar, said, “While RT-PCR never had 100% specificity, 60 to 70% accuracy in its results has been sufficient to detect Covid. There seems to be an anomaly in a few cases, but the number is too little. Some seasonal allergies or medical histories might be playing a part in their health conditions. It is too early to comment whether protocol should be changed or enhanced for such cases.”
