Background
Since the beginning of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, the potential for re-infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been a concern. Endemic coronaviruses are known to re-infect individuals in the same year, so it is plausible that natural infection with SARS-CoV-2 would similarly provide short-lived immunity. However, due to prolonged viral RNA shedding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it has been difficult to differentiate prolonged shedding from true re-infection.1 This has changed in recent months when several reports emerged of individuals re-infected with genetically different lineages of SARS-CoV-2.2,3 These reports represent confirmation that, while uncommon, re-infection in the span of several months with SARS-CoV-2 can occur.
Currently, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend testing individuals for re-infection less than 90 days since symptom onset.4,5 However, detailed SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) kinetics data appear to describe a cessation of viral RNA shedding after 70 days in the majority of individuals (though exceptions have been described).6–8 In this brief report, we describe the clinical characteristics and laboratory results of individuals with multiple positive SARS-CoV-2 rtPCR results that extend beyond 70 days.