<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Gorica Popova</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Katerina Boskoska</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ivana Arnaudova-Danevska</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Katerina Blagoevska</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">EVALUATION OF THE ANALYTICAL VALUE OF SARS-CoV-2 ANTIGEN TEST IN RELATION TO Ct-VALUES OF RT-qPCR IN PATIENTS SUSPECTED OF COVID-19</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mak Med Pregled</style></secondary-title></titles><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2021</style></year></dates><urls><web-urls><url><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">https://repository.ukim.mk/bitstream/20.500.12188/24573/1/MMP202175%281%29-15-18.pdf</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">75</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">10-13</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Introduction. 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 fast and reliable tests which can improve the efforts of controlling the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the analytical value of the rapid SARS-CoV-2 Ag-test in relation to the Ct values of the RT-qPCR. Methods. The study group comprised 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™ COVID-19) were evaluated in relation to Ct values of the SARS-CoV-2 E-gene, obtained by RTqPCR Allplex 19-nCoV multiplex assay platform. Results. 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&amp;lt;30 increased test sensitivity to 91.2%. Conclusion. 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.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1</style></issue></record></records></xml>