Role of admission rapid antigen testing (RATs) for COVID-19 on patients transferred from acute hospitals to a post-acute rehabilitation setting.

Abstract

BackgroundRapid antigen tests (RATs) are suitable for point-of -care testing, require no laboratory time and give immediate results. However, are RATs useful for detecting asymptomatic COVID-19 infection when compared with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in healthcare settings? AimThe aim of this study was to implement a reliable testing system utilising RATs to promptly detect COVID-19 infection in predominantly asymptomatic patients transferred from acute hospitals to a post-acute rehabilitation unit (PARU). MethodsRAT testing was carried out on all new admissions without a history of confirmed Covid-19 infection within three months of admission. PCR testing was carried out on all patients with a positive RAT for confirmation purposes. The cycle threshold (Ct) values of COVID-19 detected results on PCR testing were examined to determine the utility of the RATs. ResultsA total of 1,403 patients were transferred to the PARU from January to December 2023. The results of the study revealed an 85% accuracy of RATs with a 15% rate of false negative results at the time of admission. All patients that had a positive RAT at the time of admission also had a positive PCR test. ConclusionThis testing algorithm resulted in early detection and prompt isolation of positive cases reducing the likely spread of COVID-19 infection, hospital outbreaks and bed/ward closures.