@article {4775,
	title = {Rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing compared with RT-qPCR in patients suspected for COVID-19},
	journal = {European Respiratory Journal },
	volume = {58},
	year = {2021},
	abstract = {Abstract
Rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing compared with RT-qPCR in patients suspected for COVID-19
Introduction:\&nbsp;COVID-19 pandemic threatens global human health. Reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a reference test for identification of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, but it is associated with results delay. There is a need of a fast and reliable tests which can improve the efforts of controlling the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Aim:\&nbsp;This work aims to determine the analytical value of the rapid SARS-CoV-2 Ag-test in relation to the Ct values of the RT-qPCR.
Methods:\&nbsp;Study group were outpatients suspected for COVID-19, sampled twice, first for the routine RT-qPCR, and second for SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing. The results obtained by the rapid antigen test (Panbio{\texttrademark} COVID-19) were evaluated in relation to the Ct values of the SARS-CoV-2 E-gene, obtained by RT-qPCR Allplex 19-nCoV multiplex assay platform.
Results:\&nbsp;SARS-CoV-2 prevalence, based on RT-qPCR, was 50.8\% (186/366). Specificity of the PanbioTM COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test was 100\%. Test sensitivity was 73.8\%. Restricting RT-qPCR to Ct-values \&lt; 30 increased test sensitivities to 91.2\%.
Conclusion:\&nbsp;The findings underscored the epidemiological value of the rapid Ag-test, since it reliably identifies contagious SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals who actively spread the virus in the community.},
	url = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/PA3474},
	author = {Gorica Popova and Katerina Boskoska and Ivana Arnaudova-Danevska}
}
