Relationship of SARS-CoV-2 Antigen and Reverse Transcription PCR Positivity for Viral Cultures

Abstract

We assessed the relationship between antigen and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) test positivity and successful virus isolation. We found that antigen test results were more predictive of virus recovery than RT-PCR results. However, virus was isolated from some antigen-negative and RT-PCR‒positive paired specimens, providing support for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention antigen testing algorithm.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
• SARS-CoV-2
• coronaviruses
• viruses
• coronavirus disease