When to test for COVID-19 using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the time in days between symptom onset and first positive real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) result for COVID-19.

Methods

This systematic review was conducted in the MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and Scopus databases using the following descriptors: "COVID-19", "SARS-CoV-2", "coronavirus", "RT-PCR", "real time PCR", and "diagnosis".

Results

The included studies were conducted in 31 different countries and reported on a total of 6831 patients. The median age of the participants was 49.95 years. The three most common symptoms were fever, cough, and dyspnea, which affected 4012 (58.68%), 3192 (46.69%), and 2009 patients (29.38%), respectively. Among the 90 included studies, 13 were prospective c

SUBMITTER: Dos Santos PG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9233872 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature