A SARS-CoV-2 negative antigen rapid diagnostic in RT-qPCR positive samples correlates with a low likelihood of infectious viruses in the nasopharynx

• DOI: 10.1101/2022.03.17.22272008
• Publication Date: 2022-03-20T13:45:12Z
• Authors: Isadora Alonso Co...; Débora Souza Faffe; Rafael Mello Galliez; Cássia Cristina A...; Richard Araújo Maia; Gustavo Peixoto d...; Filipe Romero Reb...; Diana Mariani; Mariana Freire Ca...; Isabela de Carval...; Marcos Romário de...; Marcela Sabino Cunha; Érica Ramos dos S...; Liane de Jesus Ri...; Thais Felix Corde...; Cintia Policarpo; Luis Gonzales; Mary A Rodgers; Michael Berg; Roy Vijesurier; Gavin A Cloherty; John Hackett; Orlando da Costa ...; Terezinha Marta P...; Amilcar Tanuri; Luciana Jesus da ...
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; SARS-CoV-2; infectious virus detection; Microbiology; QR1-502; 3. Good health; antigen rapid test; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; qRT- PCR; virus transmissibility

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs even among fully vaccinated individuals; thus, prompt identification of infected patients is central to control viral circulation. Antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDT) are highly specific, but sensitivity variable.Discordant RT-qPCR vs Ag-RDT results reported, raising the question whether negative in positive samples could imply absence infectious viruses. To study relationship between a with virological, molecular, and serological parameters, we selected cross sectional follow-up dataset analyzed virus culture, subgenomic RNA quantification, sequencing determine viruses mutations. We demonstrated that result correlates presence nasopharyngeal samples. A decrease sgRNA detection together an expected increase detectable anti-S anti-N IgGs was verified / The data clearly demonstrates less likelihood sample harbor consequently lower transmissible potential.