Publication:
Point-of-care detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen among symptomatic vs. asymptomatic persons: Testing for COVID-19 vs. infectivity.

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Date

2022-10-17

Authors

Neukam, Karin
Lucero, Alicia
Gutiérrez-Valencia, Alicia
Amaya, Lucas
Echegoyen, Natalia
Martelli, Antonella
Videla, Cristina
Di Lello, Federico A
Martínez, Alfredo P

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Abstract

Management of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) requires rapid and simple methods to detect COVID-19 patients and identify potential infectors. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of a point-of-care (PoC) rapid antigen diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) in these settings. Individuals who consecutively presented for SARS-CoV-2 testing at a tertiary care center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, underwent PoC Ag-RDT testing and real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) on the same day during June 2021. Of 584 included subjects, 108 (18.5%) were symptomatic for COVID-19 while the remaining presented for miscellaneous reasons unrelated to possible or confirmed contact with a SARS-CoV-2-infected individual. A positive Ag-RDT result was obtained in 26 (24.1%) symptomatic and 7 (1.5%) asymptomatic persons (p PoC Ag-RDT accurately detected active SARS-CoV-2 infection and showed acceptable diagnostic performance in asymptomatic persons potentially spreading infectious virus. Ag-RDT may therefore be useful to slow down or stop transmission by enabling adequate decisions on isolation at a public health level.

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Humans
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19 Testing
Point-of-Care Systems
RNA, Viral
Sensitivity and Specificity

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Keywords

COVID-19, PCR, SARS-CoV-2, point-of-care, public health, rapid antigen testing, surveillance, viral kinetics

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