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As part of the National Institutes of Health’s Rapid Diagnostic Acceleration (RADx) program, a longitudinal study co-authored by researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical School stated that the PCR test and rapid antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 are useful in detecting infections It is equally effective. Give at least twice a week.
According to the NIH press release, although personal PCR testing is considered the gold standard, it is more sensitive than antigen testing, especially in the early stages of infection, but the results show that when performed regularly as part of a screening program, the two testing methods are more sensitive. The sensitivity can reach 98%. This is good news for extensive prevention programs, because antigen testing at the point of care or at home can provide immediate results without a prescription and is less expensive than laboratory testing.
The research was published in the “Journal of Infectious Diseases” on June 30. Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering who wrote this paper are: Associate Professor of Medicine Laura L. ·Gibson (Laura L. Gibson); Alyssa N. Owens, Ph.D., Research Coordinator; John P. Broach, MD, MBA, MBA, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine; Bruce A. Barton, PhD, Population and Professor of Quantitative Health Sciences; Peter Lazar, application database developer; and David D. McManus, MD, Richard M. Haidack Professor of Medicine, Chair of Medicine and Professor.
Dr. Bruce Tromberg, Director of NIBIB, a subsidiary of NIH, said: “Performing rapid antigen testing at home two to three times a week is a powerful and convenient method for individuals to screen for COVID-19 infection. “With the reopening of schools and businesses, the risk of personal infection may change every day. Continuous antigen testing can help people manage this risk and act quickly to prevent the spread of the virus.”
Researchers collected two forms of nasal swabs and saliva samples for participating employees and students during the COVID-19 screening program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for 14 consecutive days. One of the nasal swabs of each participant was sent to the Johns Hopkins University laboratory to observe the growth of live virus in the culture and to roughly measure the time the subject might transmit the infection to others.
The researchers then compared three COVID-19 detection methods: saliva PCR test, nasal sample PCR test, and nasal sample rapid antigen test. They calculated the sensitivity of each test method to detect SARS-CoV-2 and measured the presence of live virus within two weeks of infection.
When the researchers calculated the test sensitivity based on the test rhythm every three days, they reported that whether they used the rapid antigen test or the PCR test, the sensitivity of detecting infection was higher than 98%. When they only assessed the frequency of detection once a week, the sensitivity of PCR detection for nose and saliva was still high, about 98%, but the sensitivity of antigen detection dropped to 80%.
“The challenge in interpreting PCR or antigen test results is that a positive test may not indicate the presence of infectious infection (low specificity) or may not detect live virus in the sample (low sensitivity), respectively,” said co-leader Dr. Gibson. RADx Tech clinical research core.
“The uniqueness of this research is that we pair PCR and antigen detection with virus culture as an infectious marker. This research design reveals the best way to use each type of test, and reduces the risk of suspected COVID- 19 The patient explains the impact of the challenge of their results.”
Dr. Nathaniel Hafer, assistant professor of molecular medicine and principal investigator of RADx Tech Study Logistics Core, said: “As an example of the impact of our work, the data we collect helps provide CDC with information about different populations.”
Dr. Hafer pointed to the key role of the UMass School of Medicine in the design, implementation and analysis of this sensitivity test. He especially commended the research team of the University of Massachusetts Medical School-led by Dr. Broach, including project director Gul Nowshad and research navigator Bernadette Shaw-for their role in remotely observing participants in the study in the dormitory An important role in the University of Illinois.
A related report from UMassMed News: During Congress’s visit to the NIH campus, the RADx initiative was emphasized. UMass Medical School helps lead NIH RADx to accelerate new COVID testing technology. Headline news: UMass Medical School receives a $100 million NIH grant to promote fast, accessible COVID-19 testing
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Post time: Jul-14-2021