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Current status of the lateral flow immunoassay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swabs.
- Source :
-
Biochemia medica [Biochem Med (Zagreb)] 2021 Jun 15; Vol. 31 (2), pp. 020601. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Early detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are priorities during the pandemic. Symptomatic and suspected asymptomatic individuals should be tested for COVID-19 to confirm infection and to be excluded from social interactions. As molecular testing capacity is overloaded during the pandemic, rapid antigen tests, such as lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs), can be a useful tool as they allow greater test availability and obtain results in a very short time. This short review aims to present the analytical properties of LFIAs in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swabs. Lateral flow immunoassay is a method that combines thin-layer chromatography and indirect immunochemical sandwich method and allows the detection of a specific SARS-CoV-2 antigen in nasopharyngeal swabs. Swab specimens should be adequately collected and tested as soon as possible. Users should pay attention to quality control and possible interferences. Antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 show high sensitivity and specificity in cases with high viral loads, and should be used up to five days after the onset of the first symptoms of COVID-19. False positive results may be obtained when screening large populations with a low prevalence of COVID-19 infection, while false negative results may happen due to improper specimen collection or insufficient amount of antigen in the specimen. So as to achieve reliable results, a diagnostic accuracy study of a specific rapid antigen test should be performed.<br />Competing Interests: Potential conflict of interest None declared.<br /> (Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine.)
- Subjects :
- Antigens, Viral analysis
COVID-19 virology
False Negative Reactions
Humans
Immunoassay standards
Limit of Detection
Point-of-Care Systems
Quality Control
SARS-CoV-2 immunology
SARS-CoV-2 isolation & purification
Sensitivity and Specificity
Viral Load
COVID-19 diagnosis
Immunoassay methods
Nasopharynx virology
SARS-CoV-2 metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1846-7482
- Volume :
- 31
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Biochemia medica
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34140830
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.11613/BM.2021.020601