Title: Evaluation of diagnostic value of SARS-CoV-2 rapid diagnostic test in patients with Covid-19
Introduction: The standard RT-PCR test is a time-consuming diagnostic test with difficult accessibility and high cost, so in order to early diagnose and prevent the spread of Covid-19 disease, access to a quick, inexpensive diagnostic test with easy access is essential. This study aimed to evaluate diagnostic value of SARS-CoV-2 rapid diagnostic test in patients with Covid-19.
Materials & Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional study in type of diagnostic value that was performed on 188 patients with symptoms of Covid-19 referred to the emergency department of Imam Hossein and Shohadaye Tajrish hospitals in Tehran. In this study, SARS-CoV-2 rapid diagnostic test was performed immediately after sampling and according to the manufacturer's instructions (reading in 10 minutes). Then chest CT scan was performed less immediately after collecting samples to compare with the results of rapid antigen detection test. Data were collected and analyzed using Spss software V.26 and descriptive-mean and Chi-square statistical tests.
Results: Results showed that out of 83 patients who were diagnosed with Covid-19 positively based on rapid diagnostic test, all of them (100%) were also positive based on chest CT scan results, and out of 100 patients diagnosed Covid-19 negative based on rapid diagnostic test, 42 patients (42%) were true negative and 58 were positive base of chest CT scan results. The sensitivity of the rapid diagnostic test compared to chest CT scan was 100%, its specificity was 42%, its positive predictive value was 58.86% and its negative predictive value was 100%.
Conclusion: Due to the high accuracy and rapid diagnostic of rapid diagnostic test (SARS-CoV-2), this test is a valid and reliable tool for rapid diagnosis of Covid-19 disease in emergency cases.Introduction: Rapid antigen tests have gained importance during the COVID-19 pandemic due to low prices and availability. The present study investigated the performance of the SARS-CoV-2 rapid diagnostic test in diagnosing patients with COVID-19 referred to the emergency department.
Method: In this diagnostic accuracy study, patients with suspected COVID-19 referred to Imam Hossein and Shohadaye Tajrish Hospitals, Tehran, Iran, were examined. All patients were subjected to a rapid corona test according to the manufacturer's guide and a chest computed tomography (CT) scan as the standard test. The screening characteristics of the rapid test compared to CT scan were calculated and reported.
Results: 183 people with an average age of 46.83 ± 14.26 (range: 21-83) years entered the study. 141 suspected cases of COVID-19 (77%) had evidence of lung involvement in CT, and the rapid test was positive in 83 (45%) cases. Out of 83 patients who tested positive for COVID-19, all (100%) had positive chest CT findings. Out of the 100 patients who tested negative, 42 patients (42%) had negative chest CT findings, and 58 patients (58%) had positive CT scans. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the mentioned test were 58.86, 100.00, and 68.30 percent, respectively.
Conclusion: Due to the relatively low sensitivity, the Rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen test fails to screen for SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, it can be used to confirm the presence of the disease in symptomatic individuals and reduce virus transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic
