Sri Lanka, July 10 -- The COVID-19 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test is conducted for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 in upper and lower respiratory specimens (such as nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swabs, sputum, lower respiratory tract aspirates, bronchoalveolar lavage, and nasopharyngeal wash/aspirate, nasal aspirate, nasal swabs, or mid-turbinate swabs) from individuals suspected of COVID-19.

However there were several incidents where there were both positive and negative results for the same person such as the latest incident reported from Jinthupitiya. Explainaing this behaviour of tests, Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, Chief Epidemiologist at the Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health ...