Positivity of Rapid Antigen Testing for SARS-CoV-2 With Serial Followed-up Nasopharyngeal Swabs in Hospitalized Patients due to COVID-19
10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e168
- Author:
Oh Joo KWEON
1
;
Joo Hee LEE
;
Yang-Seon CHOI
;
Boo-Seop KIM
;
Yong Kwan LIM
;
Mi-Kyung LEE
;
Joung Ha PARK
;
Ji Young PARK
;
Seong Hwan KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2022;37(21):e168-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Despite the accuracy of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), rapid antigen tests (RATs) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 are widely used as point-of-care tests. A total of 282 pairs of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Standard Q COVID-19 Ag tests were serially conducted for 68 patients every 3–4 days until their discharge. Through a field evaluation of RATs using direct nasopharyngeal swabs, the sensitivities were 84.6% and 87.3% for E and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) genes, respectively, for specimens with cycle thresholds (Cts) < 25. The Ct values of E and RdRp genes for 95% detection rates by RATs were 16.9 and 18.1, respectively. The sensitivity of RAT was 48.4% after the onset of symptoms, which was not sufficient. RAT positivity gradually decreased with increased time after symptom onset and had continuously lower sensitivity than NAATs.
