| Summary: | <p><strong>Background</strong>: Rapid tests for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 are attractive options due to their simplicity, speed and cost-effectiveness; but they have different degrees of sensitivity and diagnostic specificity.<br /><strong>Objective</strong>: to evaluate the analytical performance of rapid tests to detect IgG/IgM antibodies against COVID-19.<br /><strong>Methods</strong>: descriptive study, carried out with patients admitted to the Héroes de Playa Girón Specialized Ambulatory Center, in Cienfuegos, with a presumptive, probable or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 during two periods of time. All of them underwent a rapid test to detect anti-COVID-19 antibodies, in addition to a confirmatory molecular biology test. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, predictive values, and rapid test efficiency were calculated within a 95% confidence interval.<br /><strong>Results</strong>: excellent specificity (98.75%) and regular sensitivity (54.54%) were obtained, as well as good predictive values and overall diagnostic efficiency.<strong><br />Conclusion</strong>: The rapid anti-COVID-19 tests evaluated showed adequate diagnostic performance. They constitute an affordable and valuable diagnostic alternative to assess previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Its clinical use is restricted to certain medical situations; however, they constitute a useful epidemiological tool.</p>
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