"Health Authorities Refute False Rumor Claiming 'Diagnostic Test Results Cannot Be Manipulated' (Update)"

COVID-19 Central Disease Control Headquarters Regular Briefing
"Sarang Jeil Church Members All Tested Positive and Results Manipulated" False Rumor
Health Authorities "Artificial Manipulation Impossible... No Doctor Judgment Involved"

On the 18th, as the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection related to Sarang Jeil Church increases, citizens are waiting to undergo COVID-19 testing at a temporary screening clinic set up at the Seongbuk-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The quarantine authorities refuted claims that any member of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, who undergoes testing for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) will inevitably test positive, stating that "(manipulating test results) is not possible and there is no reason to do so."

At a briefing on the 19th, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "It is impossible to artificially manipulate (COVID-19) test results," and emphasized repeatedly, "It is also impossible to interfere with a doctor's judgment, and I want to make this very clear."

This explanation came amid rumors surrounding the test results of those who visited Sarang Jeil Church, which became the largest cluster infection in the metropolitan area, or attended rallies led by the senior pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon. Claims surfaced that health centers deliberately issued positive COVID-19 diagnoses for church members, followed by assertions that some confirmed cases had their test results changed from positive to negative, raising questions about the reliability of the tests. The quarantine authorities denied these rumors as false news.

Authorities: "Entire testing process recorded in real-time... Testing tools sealed in sterile condition"
Cases of positive to negative conversion are natural results due to viral changes

Lee Sang-won, Head of Diagnostic Analysis at the Quarantine Countermeasures Headquarters, stated, "The entire testing process is recorded in real-time by the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) device, making manipulation impossible," and added, "Specimen collection tools are sealed in a sterile state, so pre-collection tampering is also impossible."

He continued, "Among the more than 600 screening clinics nationwide, many are private medical institutions," and said, "(The government) cannot instruct medical personnel to manipulate specimens, and it is hard to imagine medical staff engaging in actions that could harm patients."

Regarding cases where individuals tested positive at the Seongbuk-gu health center but later tested negative at another hospital, he explained that this phenomenon occurs naturally as the amount of virus shed decreases over time. He said, "Specimens referred from the Seongbuk-gu health center were confirmed positive by contracted testing institutions, and re-examinations also confirmed the same positive reaction."

On the 18th, officials from the Saemaul Leaders Association are conducting disinfection work near Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

He added, "The negative result at the second hospital was from a specimen collected about two days after the first test on the 14th (i.e., on the 16th), which can be interpreted as a natural change in viral load." He further explained, "Tests conducted after a confirmed patient is hospitalized are not for accuracy re-verification but to monitor progress," and added, "In the recovery phase or when the viral load is low, conversion to negative can occur within a relatively short period."

Deputy Director Kwon emphasized, "Creating false information that undermines the reliability of diagnostic tests and deliberately delaying testing are irresponsible acts that threaten the safety of all our citizens," urging, "(Those subject to testing) to get tested promptly."

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