Back to Search Start Over

Daily Rapid Antigen Exit Testing to Tailor University COVID-19 Isolation Policy.

Authors :
Earnest R
Chen C
Chaguza C
Hahn AM
Grubaugh ND
Wilson MS
Source :
Emerging infectious diseases [Emerg Infect Dis] 2022 Dec; Vol. 28 (12), pp. 2455-2462.
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

We evaluated daily rapid antigen test (RAT) data from 323 COVID-19-positive university students in Connecticut, USA, during an Omicron-dominant period. Day 5 positivity was 47% for twice-weekly screeners and 26%-28% for less-frequent screeners, approximately halving each subsequent day. Testing negative >10 days before diagnosis (event time ratio (ETR) 0.85 [95% CI 0.75-0.96]) and prior infection >90 days (ETR 0.50 [95% CI 0.33-0.76]) were significantly associated with shorter RAT positivity duration. Symptoms before or at diagnosis (ETR 1.13 [95% CI 1.02-1.25]) and receipt of 3 vaccine doses (ETR 1.20 [95% CI 1.04-1.39]) were significantly associated with prolonged positivity. Exit RATs enabled 53%-74% of students to leave isolation early when they began isolation at the time of the first positive test, but 15%-22% remained positive beyond the recommended isolation period. Factors associated with RAT positivity duration should be further explored to determine relationships with infection duration.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1080-6059
Volume :
28
Issue :
12
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Emerging infectious diseases
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
36417936
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2812.220969