Lack of Reporting, Not Tests, Is the Bar to Mass Utilization of COVID-19 Antigen Testing

Because of their low costs, scalability and speed, antigen tests may play a crucial role in meeting the unprecedented level of demand for point of care COVID-19 screening tests, particularly in nursing home, educational and workplace settings. However, if antigen testing is to be the answer, there’s one significant problem that will need to be addressed: lack of reliable and consistent test data reporting. Could Antigen Testing Be the Answer? There’s a desperate need for point of care tests for screening asymptomatic populations that can deliver accurate results at cost-effective prices While accurate, RT PCR tests are performed at offsite labs which undermines their effectiveness for widespread and rapid screening. Blood-based serology tests that detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies can be performed at the point of care but lack the specificity and sensitivity of RT PCR assays. Tests that detect viruses by identifying the presence of antigens or toxins a virus produces that cause the body to produce antibodies are relatively inexpensive to produce and generate results rapidly at the point of care. And while its relative lack of sensitivity creates the risk of false negatives and need for confirmatory testing, antigen testing may still be appropriate for applications like screening health…