# Assessing past versus present severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection: A survey of criteria for discontinuing precautions in asymptomatic patients testing positive on admission

## TL;DR

This paper discusses how healthcare leaders use criteria to determine if asymptomatic patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 tests are recently recovered or still infectious.

## Contribution

The study highlights the importance of proper interpretation of high-sensitivity tests to avoid unnecessary precautions.

## Key findings

- Infection prevention leaders commonly use criteria to assess incidentally positive asymptomatic patients.
- Proper interpretation of molecular tests can prevent unnecessary precautions and delays in care.

## Abstract

Infection prevention program leaders report frequent use of criteria to distinguish recently recovered coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases from actively infectious cases when incidentally positive asymptomatic patients were identified on routine severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Guidance on appropriate interpretation of high-sensitivity molecular tests can prevent harm from unnecessary precautions that delay admission and impede medical care.