May 14, 2021

Diagnostic Performance of an Antigen Test with RT-PCR for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in a Hospital Setting — Los Angeles County, California, June–August 2020

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

Keywords (Tags): testing

• An evaluation of the rapid Quidel Sofia 2 SARS Antigen FIA test in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at a large, tertiary medical center in Los Angeles found a lower sensitivity in symptomatic (72%) and asymptomatic (61%) patients compared to RT-PCR. Specificity of the Antigen test was >98% in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. The authors suggest that persons with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 who test negative with a rapid antigen test should also receive confirmatory RT-PCR testing to reduce the risk of a false negative test result and prevent delays in diagnosis, isolation, and treatment of infected individuals. 

Brihn et al. (May 14, 2021). Diagnostic Performance of an Antigen Test with RT-PCR for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in a Hospital Setting — Los Angeles County, California, June–August 2020. MMWR. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7019a3