Performance of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test compared with real-time RT-PCR in asymptomatic individuals. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peña, Mónica; Ampuero, Manuel; Garcés, Carlos; Gaggero, Aldo; García, Patricia; Velasquez, María Soledad; Luza, Ricardo; Alvarez, Pía; Paredes, Fabio; Acevedo, Johanna; Farfán, Mauricio J.; Solari, Sandra; Soto-Rifo, Ricardo; Valiente-Echeverría, Fernando
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 107(2021)
• Page Start: 201
• Page End: 204
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Rapid antigen test -- RAT -- SARS-CoV-2 -- RT-PCR -- Asymptomatic; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.04.087
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Highlights: This review assessed the performance of the SD Biosensor antigen test compared to RT-PCR. It reported a sensibility of 69.86% and specificity of 99.61%. The SD Biosensor antigen test enabled rapid identification of asymptomatic individuals. Abstract: Screening, testing and contact tracing plays a pivotal role in control of the COVID-19 pandemic. To enable this it is necessary to increase the testing capacity. This study compared a SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test (RAT) and RT-PCR in 842 asymptomatic individuals from Tarapacá, Chile. A sensitivity of 69.86%, specificity of 99.61%, PPV of 94.44% and NPP of 97.22% with Ct values (Ct > 27) that were significantly higher among individuals with false-negative RAT were reported. These results support the fact that RAT might have a significant impact on the identification of asymptomatic carriers in areas that lack suitable laboratories to perform SARS-CoV-2 real-time RT-PCR diagnostics, or the results take more than 24–48 h, as well as zones with high traffic of individuals such as border/customs, airports, interregional bus, train stations or in any mass testing campaign requiring rapid results.