<?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></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing compared with RT-qPCR in patients suspected for COVID-19</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">European Respiratory Journal </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://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/PA3474</style></url></web-urls></urls><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">58</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">&lt;h2&gt;Abstract&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p id=&quot;p-1&quot;&gt;Rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing compared with RT-qPCR in patients suspected for COVID-19&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p id=&quot;p-2&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Introduction:&lt;/span&gt;&amp;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.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p id=&quot;p-3&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Aim:&lt;/span&gt;&amp;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.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p id=&quot;p-4&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Methods:&lt;/span&gt;&amp;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™ 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.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p id=&quot;p-5&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Results:&lt;/span&gt;&amp;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 &amp;lt; 30 increased test sensitivities to 91.2%.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p id=&quot;p-6&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/span&gt;&amp;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.&lt;/p&gt;</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">65</style></issue></record></records></xml>