[Q&A] "17-year-old deceased tested final 'negative' for COVID-19... cause of death unconfirmed"

Director Yoo Cheon-gwon of the Infectious Disease Analysis Center (right) is explaining on the 19th at the Central Disease Control Headquarters regular briefing regarding a 17-year-old high school student who showed pneumonia symptoms and died in Daegu. On the left is Deputy Director Kwon Jun-wook of the Central Disease Control Headquarters.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The quarantine authorities announced that the diagnosis test result for the 17-year-old high school student who died showing pneumonia symptoms in Daegu was finally 'negative' for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Regarding the cause of death, they stated, "It has not been confirmed yet."

On the afternoon of the 19th, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19, opened the regular briefing by expressing "deep condolences to the bereaved family," and explained, "In addition to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, external private medical institutions also promptly conducted retests, and the epidemiological investigation team secured clinical medical records," adding, "We compiled clinical information and test results and requested the Central Clinical Committee to make a final case judgment."

He continued, "The Diagnostic Test Management Committee reviewed all diagnostic test results and concluded a final negative judgment," and added, "In the Central Clinical Committee discussion this morning, it was also judged that the death was not caused by COVID-19, and it was concluded that an autopsy was unnecessary."

The 17-year-old high school student who died the previous day was found to have undergone a total of 13 COVID-19 tests at Yeungnam University Medical Center. The results of the 12 tests conducted until the day before death were all negative, but the last test on the day of death showed partial positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reactions in urine and sputum.

The quarantine authorities judged the urine test result as 'indeterminate' and sent the student's specimens to multiple university hospitals for cross-testing. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Seoul National University Hospital, and Yonsei University Severance Hospital conducted cross-tests, and since COVID-19 was not detected in any of the specimens tested by all institutions, a final 'negative' judgment for COVID-19 was made.

Yu Cheon-kwon, Head of the Diagnostic Analysis Management Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, explained, "Upon receiving the original test data from Yeungnam University Hospital and reinterpreting it, PCR reactions were confirmed even in control specimens that did not contain patient samples," and added, "There is a reasonable suspicion of indeterminate reactions due to laboratory contamination or technical errors."

◇ Below is a Q&A with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters regarding the 17-year-old deceased

- How many times was the deceased tested exactly, and what was the cause of the sudden death in a short period?

▲ Yeungnam University Hospital conducted a total of 13 COVID-19 tests from March 13 to 18. Twelve respiratory specimens tested negative, but the 13th test on the 18th showed partial PCR genetic test reactions from urine and sputum, prompting a request for testing to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The agency received remaining specimens such as respiratory washings, serum, and urine that showed indeterminate reactions and reanalyzed them. Simultaneously, Seoul National University Hospital and Severance Hospital were requested to perform the same tests. As a result, COVID-19 was not detected in any specimens from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency or any testing institutions. Furthermore, upon reinterpreting the original test data provided by Yeungnam University Hospital, PCR reactions were confirmed even in control specimens that did not contain patient samples, raising reasonable suspicion of indeterminate reactions due to laboratory contamination or technical errors. Based on these two aspects, the COVID-19 Diagnostic Management Committee, composed of public and private diagnostic experts, convened this morning. The committee unanimously concluded that the case is most appropriately judged as 'negative' and that various laboratories need to be inspected. It was concluded that the death was not caused by COVID-19, and therefore, an autopsy was deemed unnecessary.

- Was only the COVID-19 testing at Yeungnam University Hospital suspended?

▲ Yes. Since it is necessary to closely examine whether errors occurred in other recent tests conducted at Yeungnam University Hospital, an investigation will be conducted. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and other private medical institutions conducted tests for verification and all produced accurate results. Experts from the Diagnostic Test Management Committee also confirmed this, and the Central Clinical Committee finally verified it.

- There were reports that the lungs appeared white on X-rays and that the deceased had visited the hospital before the 13th but was sent home without proper treatment. Is that true?

▲ The Central Clinical Committee has concluded that it is unrelated to COVID-19. Other matters will be reviewed through different procedures or processes.

- It is unusual to be tested 13 times; what was the reason for retesting? There are also doubts about the reliability of the test kits.

▲ There is no need to doubt the reliability of the diagnostic reagents at all, and evaluation results have already been made public. The fact that 13 tests were conducted was the judgment of the medical institution and falls within their medical domain. It is presumed that the institution had a stronger diagnostic suspicion regarding the test items, but this is not clear.

- When the deceased visited Gyeongsan Central Hospital, pneumonia of unknown cause was found. Shouldn't diagnostic tests and appropriate measures have been taken?

▲ Apart from the COVID-19 results, other medical actions have not been further examined. If possible, this can be discussed with the Central Clinical Committee. Whether it was a medical staff error also requires separate investigation and detailed review.

- Is it not possible to disclose the cause of death of the deceased?

▲ Although it was concluded that it was not COVID-19, the cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

- Do people who were tested at Yeungnam University Medical Center in the past need special measures immediately?

▲ COVID-19 testing has been suspended for now, and a thorough investigation will be conducted to determine whether structural errors occurred. Past test results will also be reviewed. However, this is not related to the currently used COVID-19 diagnostic reagents, test kits, or diagnostic kits. Other testing institutions continue to evaluate and monitor, and accuracy is continuously disclosed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.