Evaluation of the Usability of a Rapid Antigen Test for the Diagnosis of COVID-19 Disease in Comparison with the Molecular Method
Introduction: Rapid testing of patients with suspected COVID-19 disease is critical so that those infected can self-isolate and reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 spreading to the community. Our study aimed to assess the usability of a rapid antigen test kit for the diagnosis of COVID-19 by comparing it...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Bilimsel Tip Yayinevi
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Flora Infeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi |
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| Online Access: | http://www.floradergisi.org/managete/fu_folder/2023-03/2023-28-03-433-439.pdf |
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| author | Fatih ÇUBUK Ayşe Hümeyra TAŞKIN KAFA Hatice Şeyma BAYKUŞ Mürşit HASBEK |
| author_facet | Fatih ÇUBUK Ayşe Hümeyra TAŞKIN KAFA Hatice Şeyma BAYKUŞ Mürşit HASBEK |
| author_sort | Fatih ÇUBUK |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Rapid testing of patients with suspected COVID-19 disease is critical so that those infected can self-isolate and reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 spreading to the community. Our study aimed to assess the usability of a rapid antigen test kit for the diagnosis of COVID-19 by comparing it with the molecular method.
Materials and Methods: Our study was planned retrospectively between 14 March and 14 August 2022. COVID-19 rapid antigen test and COVID-19 RT qPCR test results of patients who applied to our hospital with complaints compatible with COVID-19 disease during this period were included in the study.
Results: A total of 268 patients were included in the study. According to the PCR test, the sensitivity was 92.6%, the specificity was 96.5%, and the accuracy was 95.1% for the rapid antigen test. Seven (2.6%) samples were identified as positive by the PCR test but negative by the rapid antigen test. The mean Ct value of these samples was detected as 26.38. According to the PCR test, the rapid antigen test positivity rate was 100% for 78 samples with a Ct value of 30.
Conclusion: COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits can be utilized to rapidly detect and isolate symptomatic individuals, particularly during periods when there is a high number of cases. However, the sensitivity of the rapid antigen test is affected by the viral load of the sample. With rapid antigen test kits, there is a possibility of obtaining false negative results in samples with high Ct values or low viral loads. Therefore, we believe it would be beneficial to evaluate symptomatic individuals with negative rapid antigen test results using PCR. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T22:38:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6bfc6f2e7b8b4adc98646a9433733399 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1300-932X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T22:38:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Bilimsel Tip Yayinevi |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Flora Infeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi |
| spelling | doaj.art-6bfc6f2e7b8b4adc98646a94337333992023-09-22T12:08:00ZengBilimsel Tip YayineviFlora Infeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi1300-932X2023-09-0128343343910.5578/flora.20239713Evaluation of the Usability of a Rapid Antigen Test for the Diagnosis of COVID-19 Disease in Comparison with the Molecular MethodFatih ÇUBUK0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8976-7691Ayşe Hümeyra TAŞKIN KAFA1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7282-4928Hatice Şeyma BAYKUŞ2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8000-9010Mürşit HASBEK3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5217-8607Department of Medical Microbiology, Sivas Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Sivas, TürkiyeDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Sivas Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Sivas, TürkiyeDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Sivas Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Sivas, TürkiyeDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Sivas Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Sivas, TürkiyeIntroduction: Rapid testing of patients with suspected COVID-19 disease is critical so that those infected can self-isolate and reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 spreading to the community. Our study aimed to assess the usability of a rapid antigen test kit for the diagnosis of COVID-19 by comparing it with the molecular method. Materials and Methods: Our study was planned retrospectively between 14 March and 14 August 2022. COVID-19 rapid antigen test and COVID-19 RT qPCR test results of patients who applied to our hospital with complaints compatible with COVID-19 disease during this period were included in the study. Results: A total of 268 patients were included in the study. According to the PCR test, the sensitivity was 92.6%, the specificity was 96.5%, and the accuracy was 95.1% for the rapid antigen test. Seven (2.6%) samples were identified as positive by the PCR test but negative by the rapid antigen test. The mean Ct value of these samples was detected as 26.38. According to the PCR test, the rapid antigen test positivity rate was 100% for 78 samples with a Ct value of 30. Conclusion: COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits can be utilized to rapidly detect and isolate symptomatic individuals, particularly during periods when there is a high number of cases. However, the sensitivity of the rapid antigen test is affected by the viral load of the sample. With rapid antigen test kits, there is a possibility of obtaining false negative results in samples with high Ct values or low viral loads. Therefore, we believe it would be beneficial to evaluate symptomatic individuals with negative rapid antigen test results using PCR.http://www.floradergisi.org/managete/fu_folder/2023-03/2023-28-03-433-439.pdfcovid-19sars-cov-2covid-19 rapid antigen testrt-qpcr |
| spellingShingle | Fatih ÇUBUK Ayşe Hümeyra TAŞKIN KAFA Hatice Şeyma BAYKUŞ Mürşit HASBEK Evaluation of the Usability of a Rapid Antigen Test for the Diagnosis of COVID-19 Disease in Comparison with the Molecular Method Flora Infeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi covid-19 sars-cov-2 covid-19 rapid antigen test rt-qpcr |
| title | Evaluation of the Usability of a Rapid Antigen Test for the Diagnosis of COVID-19 Disease in Comparison with the Molecular Method |
| title_full | Evaluation of the Usability of a Rapid Antigen Test for the Diagnosis of COVID-19 Disease in Comparison with the Molecular Method |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of the Usability of a Rapid Antigen Test for the Diagnosis of COVID-19 Disease in Comparison with the Molecular Method |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of the Usability of a Rapid Antigen Test for the Diagnosis of COVID-19 Disease in Comparison with the Molecular Method |
| title_short | Evaluation of the Usability of a Rapid Antigen Test for the Diagnosis of COVID-19 Disease in Comparison with the Molecular Method |
| title_sort | evaluation of the usability of a rapid antigen test for the diagnosis of covid 19 disease in comparison with the molecular method |
| topic | covid-19 sars-cov-2 covid-19 rapid antigen test rt-qpcr |
| url | http://www.floradergisi.org/managete/fu_folder/2023-03/2023-28-03-433-439.pdf |
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