Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

March 17, 2021

Nasopharyngeal Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Performed at Point-of-Care Has a High Sensitivity in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Patients With Higher Risk for Transmission and Older Age

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  • Performance of the nasopharyngeal Panbio COVID-19 antigen (Ag) test was highly dependent on the cycle threshold (Ct) value. The Panbio test showed high sensitivity among older, symptomatic patients with a cycle threshold (Ct) value below 30 (indicating higher viral load). The positive percent agreement (PPA) relative to RT-PCR of 94% for Ct at ≤25 and 80% for Ct ≤30. Among patients who were symptomatic, the PPA was 95% for Ct ≤25, 85% for Ct ≤30, and 89% for symptoms of fever, cough, and malaise. In asymptomatic patients, the PPA was 86% for Ct ≤25. 

Masiá et al. (Feb 2, 2021). Nasopharyngeal Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Performed at Point-of-Care Has a High Sensitivity in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Patients With Higher Risk for Transmission and Older Age. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofab059