RT-PCR seemed to be gold standard for detections of nCoV-2 during first wave taking reference as the SARS-CoV-2 strain genome. But the mutations occurring at a very fast pace during these months and surge of second wave with double mutated strain as dominant has lead to failure of detection of the strain by RT-PCR. This has yielded many false negative cases as per the FDA issued alert in January 2021.

So FDA has advised doctors to consider negative results as false negative and they should be combined with clinical observations of the patient.

As reported by Arind Kothandaraman,  General manager at diagnostics  company, PerkinElmer, mutations in spike protein makes the virus less detectable in PCR tests. The UK variant B.1.1.7 which is widely spread throughout most of the parts of India during second surge of wave is actually a mutated form of nCoV-2 at 69-70 deletion in S gene. This deletion type of mutation has allowed it non detectable in molecular tests like RT-PCR.

Dr. Pratibha Kale, Associate professor of clinical microbiology at Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences said that  virus has changed its behavior and not observed in nasal or throat cavity, because of this the nasal or oral swabs taken  are showing negative results. So it is like studying a whole new virus.

So, it is strictly suggested that to wear mask and maintain social distance with personal hygiene to avoid getting infected, as RT-PCR and other diagnostic methods are also reasonably at a failure. Having healthy diet with personal care is only the way to avoid this virus. Since there is no proper cure, prevention is only the way.