Objective To evaluate determinants of prolonged viral RNA shedding in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Materials and methods Hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 positive nasopharyngeal RT-PCR were included in a single-center, retrospective study . Patients were divided in two groups according to the timing of viral clearance [≤14 days, “ early clearance (EC) ” and> 14 days, “ late clearance (LC) ”]. Results 179 patients were included in the study (101 EC, 78 LC), with median age 62 years . Median time of viral shedding was 14 days (EC/LC 10 and 19 days, respectively, p <0.0001). Univariate analyses showed that age, male gender, receiving corticosteroids, receiving tocilizumab, ICU admission, low albumin and NLR ratio were associated with late viral clearance . In the multivariable analysis, older age (p=0.016), albumin level (p=0.048), corticosteroids (p=0.021) and tocilizumab (p=0.015) were significantly associated with late viral clearance . Conclusions Age, albumin, tocilizumab and corticosteroid treatment were independently associated with a prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding.