RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The impact of false positive COVID-19 results in an area of low prevalence
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP e54
OP e56
DO 10.7861/clinmed.2020-0839
VO 21
IS 1
A1 Brendan Healy
A1 Azizah Khan
A1 Huria Metezai
A1 Ian Blyth
A1 Hibo Asad
YR 2021
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/21/1/e54.abstract
AB False negative results in COVID-19 testing are well recognised and frequently discussed. False positive results, while less common and less frequently discussed, still have several adverse implications, including potential exposure of a non-infected person to the virus in a cohorted area. Although false positive results are proportionally greater in low prevalence settings, the consequences are significant at all times and potentially of greater significance in high-prevalence settings. We evaluated COVID-19 results in one area during a period of low prevalence. The consequences of these results are discussed and implications for these results in both high and low prevalence settings are considered. We also provide recommendations to minimise the risk and impact of false-positive results.