Detection of SARS-CoV-2 by real time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction assay in pleural effusion

SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2) is a novel coronavirus identified for the first time in Wuhan (China) 2019, responsible of current pandemic infection known as Coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19). Wide range clinical presentation COVD -19 has been observed, from asymptomatic carriers to ARDS. The common signs and symptoms include fever, fatigue, dry cough, dyspnoea; severity due impairment function. radiological findings large variety lesions; bilateral interstitial pneumonia most concerning COVID-19. Pleural involvement described minority cases: pleural thickening had observed 32% cases whereas effusion uncommon being only 5%. Furthermore, significantly associated with worse prognosis. Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), beyond nasopharyngeal swab, detected other samples; up now, data about RT-PCR specific results fluid patients suffering 2019 5 (COVID-19) are very limited. gold standard diagnosis nucleic acid detection by real Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) swab. In this report, case positive Sars-Cov-2 pleura naso- pharyngeal swab patient affected severe failure described. As presence SARS-Cov-2 seems be poor prognosis, physicians should carry out assay both sample also when amount scarce not recognizable chest X ray. analysis multiple samples allows increase test reliability.