Comparison of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test Results with PCR Reactive/ Non-Reactive Cases

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the analytical accuracy of the COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Device by Abbott PanbioTM using RT-PCR as the reference assay and to detect any false-positive/negative reactions to assess the specificity of this analytical procedure.

Study Design: Cross-Sectional analytical study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemical Pathology, Chughtai Institute of Pathology, Lahore Pakistan, from Feb to May 2021.

Methodology: This study was comprised of a total of 105 samples. The result of these nasopharyngeal specimens was already established by Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Then the same (nasopharyngeal) specimens were analysed on Rapid Antigen Detection Test Device.

Results: Out of 105 specimens, we got 88(83%) PCR positive samples and 17(16%) PCR negative, which, when compared with the Abbott PanbioTM Rapid Antigen Test Device, showed 60(57%) positive and 45(42.8%) negative samples having a sensitivity of 75(86%) (CI 67.04%-83.32%) and specificity of 100%(80.49-100%). The accuracy of the test was found to be 78(95%). This assay was found convenient and more appropriate for outdoor settings.
Keywords: COVID-19, RT-PCR, Rapid antigen test, Specificity, Sensitivity.