The testing capacity for SARS-CoV-2 in Africa is rather limited. Antigen detection rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) are a cheap and rapid alternative to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests, but there is little data about their performance under real life conditions in tropical countries. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of a standard Ag-RDT in a population of a major hospital in northern Ghana. Prospective, cross-sectional, blinded verification of the performance of the SD Biosensor Standard Q SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDT under real life conditions in 135 symptomatic patients and 58 contacts of RT-PCR positives at Tamale Teaching Hospital in February 2021. Nasopharyngeal samples were taken under standard conditions and tested against RT-PCR in the hospital laboratory. 193 participants (median age 35 years, 109 male) were included into the study for which both RT-PCR test and Ag-RDT results were available. A total of 42 (22%) wereRT-PCR positive. Of the 42 RT-PCR positives, 27 were Ag-RDT positive, resulting in a sensitivity of 64% (95% CI 49–79). Sensitivity among symptomatic patients was 58% (95% CI 38–78). 123 were identified Ag-RDT negatives of the 151 RT-PCR negatives, resulting in a specificity of 81% (95% CI 75–87). SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDTs appear to have a rather low sensitivity and particularly a low specificity under real life conditions in Africa. The role of existing Ag-RDTs in countries with high-temperature climates and limited resources still needs more data and discussion
A., A (2024). FIELD EVALUATION OF SPECIFICITY AND SENSITIVITY OF A STANDARD SARS-COV-2 ANTIGEN RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TEST: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN GHANA. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/field-evaluation-of-specificity-and-sensitivity-of-a-standard-sars-cov-2-antigen-rapid-diagnostic-test-a-prospective-study-at-a-teaching-hospital-in-northern-ghana
A., Abdul- "FIELD EVALUATION OF SPECIFICITY AND SENSITIVITY OF A STANDARD SARS-COV-2 ANTIGEN RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TEST: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN GHANA" Afribary. Afribary, 16 Jul. 2024, https://afribary.com/works/field-evaluation-of-specificity-and-sensitivity-of-a-standard-sars-cov-2-antigen-rapid-diagnostic-test-a-prospective-study-at-a-teaching-hospital-in-northern-ghana. Accessed 07 Sep. 2024.
A., Abdul- . "FIELD EVALUATION OF SPECIFICITY AND SENSITIVITY OF A STANDARD SARS-COV-2 ANTIGEN RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TEST: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN GHANA". Afribary, Afribary, 16 Jul. 2024. Web. 07 Sep. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/field-evaluation-of-specificity-and-sensitivity-of-a-standard-sars-cov-2-antigen-rapid-diagnostic-test-a-prospective-study-at-a-teaching-hospital-in-northern-ghana >.
A., Abdul- . "FIELD EVALUATION OF SPECIFICITY AND SENSITIVITY OF A STANDARD SARS-COV-2 ANTIGEN RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TEST: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN GHANA" Afribary (2024). Accessed September 07, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/field-evaluation-of-specificity-and-sensitivity-of-a-standard-sars-cov-2-antigen-rapid-diagnostic-test-a-prospective-study-at-a-teaching-hospital-in-northern-ghana