Diagnostics

SARS CoV-2 antigen tests are effective because they are based on the same lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) format used in at-home pregnancy tests and can help track and contain the spread of the pandemic due to their ease of use in clinics and eventually in homes. While the sensitivity of antigen-based POC tests is lower than that of PCR tests, repeated rapid testing of the broader public—also known as surveillance testing—may do a better job of identifying infectious individuals than the accurate but cumbersome PCR tests. Many of the rapid antigen tests have yet to be deployed, but if done successfully, it would set a precedent for the rapid development and deployment of antigen tests should another Covid-19 outbreak or pandemic emerge. Low-income countries cannot afford to test wide populations, but there is interest in rapid antigen testing as a core diagnostic strategy due to its efficiency.