SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test results across symptomatic COVID-19 cases in Auckland, New Zealand, February-June 2020.

ABSTRACT: During the first wave of COVID-19 transmission in New Zealand, a review of RT-PCR testing in all symptomatic cases reported in the Auckland Region found 74% of test results to have been positive. Detection rate was superior for nasopharyngeal swabs than for oropharyngeal samples, and highest one week after symptom onset. Certain symptom presentations may associate with these cases returning negative results, with dyspnoea reported by a greater proportion of cases who tested negative.