tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Int J Infect Dis
. 2023 Aug 2;S1201-9712(23)00679-3.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.07.029. Online ahead of print. Real-world performance of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen testing through the Alpha-, Delta- and Omicron-dominant waves of the COVID-19 pandemic
Alexander Domnich[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Andrea Orsi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Valentina Ricucci[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Vanessa De Pace[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Elvira Massaro[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Matilde Ogliastro[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Bianca Bruzzone[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Giancarlo Icardi[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Objectives: Compared with reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), rapid antigen detection tests (RADTs) for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics are faster, less expensive, but also less accurate. Performance of RADTs is context-specific and depends on disease prevalence. In this real-world study, we assessed impact of RADTs in an inpatient setting through the entire COVID-19 emergency phase.
Methods: In this matched retrospective study, data on RT-PCR and RADT laboratory diagnoses of SARS-CoV-2 made between February 2020 and May 2023 in a large hospital were analyzed. To be included in the study, samples used for both RT-PCR and RADT had to be collected on the same day.
Results: Of 278,867 RT-PCR tests available, 13,321 same-day RADTs could be matched to RT-PCR. Over the entire period, RADT sensitivity and specificity were 76.4% and 99.4%, respectively. With the observed positivity rate of 9.4%, positive and negative predictive values were 92.7% and 97.6%, respectively. Compared with the periods dominated by the Alpha and Delta variants of concern (VOCs), RADT accuracy was slightly lower during the Omicron phase.
Conclusion: This real-world experience demonstrates that despite suboptimal sensitivity and some variation by predominant VOC and positivity prevalence, use of RADTs is useful in hospital settings. Public health implications were discussed.
Keywords: COVID-19; Diagnostic accuracy; Rapid antigen detection test; Real-world performance; SARS-CoV-2.
. 2023 Aug 2;S1201-9712(23)00679-3.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.07.029. Online ahead of print. Real-world performance of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen testing through the Alpha-, Delta- and Omicron-dominant waves of the COVID-19 pandemic
Alexander Domnich[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Andrea Orsi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Valentina Ricucci[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Vanessa De Pace[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Elvira Massaro[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Matilde Ogliastro[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Bianca Bruzzone[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Giancarlo Icardi[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 37536389
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.07.029
Objectives: Compared with reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), rapid antigen detection tests (RADTs) for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics are faster, less expensive, but also less accurate. Performance of RADTs is context-specific and depends on disease prevalence. In this real-world study, we assessed impact of RADTs in an inpatient setting through the entire COVID-19 emergency phase.
Methods: In this matched retrospective study, data on RT-PCR and RADT laboratory diagnoses of SARS-CoV-2 made between February 2020 and May 2023 in a large hospital were analyzed. To be included in the study, samples used for both RT-PCR and RADT had to be collected on the same day.
Results: Of 278,867 RT-PCR tests available, 13,321 same-day RADTs could be matched to RT-PCR. Over the entire period, RADT sensitivity and specificity were 76.4% and 99.4%, respectively. With the observed positivity rate of 9.4%, positive and negative predictive values were 92.7% and 97.6%, respectively. Compared with the periods dominated by the Alpha and Delta variants of concern (VOCs), RADT accuracy was slightly lower during the Omicron phase.
Conclusion: This real-world experience demonstrates that despite suboptimal sensitivity and some variation by predominant VOC and positivity prevalence, use of RADTs is useful in hospital settings. Public health implications were discussed.
Keywords: COVID-19; Diagnostic accuracy; Rapid antigen detection test; Real-world performance; SARS-CoV-2.