Abstract
COVID-19 rapid antigen testing strategies require careful evaluation
Highlights
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, testing for SARS-CoV-2 to allow early identification and isolation of those likely to be infectious has been a cornerstone of public health strategies to interrupt transmission of infection
An early reliance on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to confirm infection in those showing ‘typical’ signs and symptoms associated with Covid-19 was quickly supplemented with the use of rapid antigen detection tests (RDTs), as the use case scenarios for testing changed from a focus on containment to a situation where testing has a much wider role as part of efforts to ease societal restrictions [1]
The observed sensitivity of the RDT testing strategy was low À 42% overall and rising only to 49% in those with a ‘typical’ Covid-19 symptom profile
Summary
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, testing for SARS-CoV-2 to allow early identification and isolation of those likely to be infectious has been a cornerstone of public health strategies to interrupt transmission of infection. Rt-PCR (able to detect even the smallest amount of viral RNA) is highly sensitive for detection of SARS-CoV-2, but has been criticised for its continued detection of the virus long after an individual is likely to remain infectious [3].
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