Children’s Hospital LA says child's COVID-19 tests were 'false positive,' since tested negative

Children’s Hospital LA confirms it is treating a patient with COVID-19

LOS ANGELES - A preteen child who initially tested positive for COVID-19 and was being treated by Children's Hospital Los Angeles has twice since tested negative, a hospital spokesman said Sunday.

CHLA performed the tests on the child, who is between the ages of 6 and 9, at a medical facility in Ventura County, said Lorenzo Benet, the hospital's director of public relations.

The child is still in isolation, being treated for an unrelated underlying condition, Benet said.

“CHLA believes the first Ventura County result was a false positive,” he said.

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On March 13 and 14, CHLA performed two more tests, both of which came back negative. Ventura County Public Health performed a second test using the original sample and their results also came back negative, he said.

Benet said CHLA was following all Los Angeles County Public Health Department treatment guidelines and protocols to care for the patient and protect the medical staff, and was in constant contact with local and state health authorities.