Comparison of the SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test with Real-Time RT-PCR Assay for Laboratory Diagnosis of COVID-19 in Bangladesh

Authors

  • Arifa Akram Assistant Professor, Department of Virology, National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Md Bayzid Bin Monir Resident Medical Officer, Department of Microbiology, National Institute of Laboratory Medicine & Referral Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Md Maruf Ahmed Molla Medical Officer, Department of virology, National Institute of Laboratory Medicine & Referral Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • THM Enayet Ullah Khan Dental Surgeon, Data Assistant, MIS, attached to National Institute of Laboratory Medicine & Referral Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh;
  • Aunta Melan Lab Consultant, Department of Virology, National Institute of Laboratory Medicine & Referral Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Monirul Islam Medical Technologist, Department of Virology, National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Nur Hosen Medical Technologist, Department of Virology, National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjid.v9i9.62612

Keywords:

COVID-19; RT PCR; Antigen test

Abstract

Background: The authenticity and importance of RT-PCR testing cannot be overstated, for resource-limited settings like Bangladesh, especially in places where RT -PCR facilities are unavailable, rapid antigen testing could be an important supportive tool in SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection test with RT-PCR for viral gene detection assay.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was performed at National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Center (NILMRC), Dhaka between March and April 2021. The nasopharyngeal swab samples were obtained from COVID-19 suspected cases collected from NILMRC virology lab. RT-PCR testing was conducted by Novel Coronavirus Nucleic Acid Diagnostic Kit. Rapid antigen testing was conducted using Standard Q COVID-19 Ag test.

Results: The median age was 35.2 years. Among the confirmed cases, 63.0% were male patients. A total of 68 samples came out as positive and 226 were negative using both methods. Additionally, four more positive cases were detected by the Rapid Antigen Testing method. The sensitivity and specificity of the rapid antigen test was found to be 94.0% and 99.0% respectively.

Conclusions: Rapid antigen test and rt-PCR showed almost similar sensitivity and specificity.

Bangladesh Journal of Infectious Diseases, April 2022;9(Suppl_1): S24-S27

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Published

2022-11-02

How to Cite

Akram, A. ., Monir, M. B. B. ., Ahmed Molla, M. M. ., Ullah Khan, T. E. ., Melan, A. ., Islam, M., & Hosen, N. (2022). Comparison of the SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test with Real-Time RT-PCR Assay for Laboratory Diagnosis of COVID-19 in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Infectious Diseases, 9(9), S24-S27. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjid.v9i9.62612

Issue

Volume 9, Supplement (2022): Impact of COVID19 Disease

Section

Original Articles

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Copyright (c) 2022 Arifa Akram, Md Bayzid Bin Monir, Md Maruf Ahmed Molla, THM Enayet Ullah Khan, Aunta Melan, Monirul Islam, Nur Hosen

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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