Evaluation of Panbio rapid antigen test for SARS‐CoV‐2 in symptomatic patients and their contacts: a multicenter study

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.10.027
• Publication Date: 2021-10-22T02:17:09Z
• Authors: Ireri Thirion-Romero; Dr. Selene Guerre...; Dr. Alexandra Ari...; Dr. Dora Patricia...; Dr. Patricia Meza...; Dr. Darwin Stalin...; Dr. Thierry Herná...; Dr. Arturo Galind...; Dr. Isabel Villeg...; Dr. Jesús Sepúlve...; Dr. Santiago Ávil...; Dr. Eduardo Becer...; Rosario Fernández...; TIT Midori Pérez-...; Dr. Ana Coeto-Cano; Dr. Joel Armando ...; Dr. Simón Kawa-Ka...; Dr. Gustavo Reyes...; Dr. José Rogelio ...
• Keywords: Rapid diagnostic test; Cross-sectional study

BackgroundPoint-of-care rapid tests to identify SARS-CoV-2 can have clinical benefits.MethodsA cross-sectional study in adults visiting emergency services or screening sites of referral hospitals for COVID-19 validate the diagnostic performance a antigen test (Abbott's Panbio) compared with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. Tests were performed by health personnel routine situation during outbreak.ResultsA total 1060 participants (mean age 47, 46% self-reported comorbidity) recruited from 8 Mexico. Participants provided valid Panbio test-RT-PCR pairs 45% testing positive RT-PCR. Overall sensitivity was 54.2% (95% CI 51%–57%), and 69.1% 66%–73%) patients first week symptoms. Sensitivity depended on viral load (cycle threshold (Ct) RT-PCR) days With Ct ≤25, 82% CI, 76%–87%). Specificity >97.8% all groups.ConclusionsThe had good specificity but low sensitivity. A negative requires confirmation RT-PCR, especially after