PERFORMANCE OF RAPID ANTIGEN TEST IN COMPARISON TO REAL-TIME RT-PCR IN DIAGNOSIS OF COVID-19 INFECTION: A SHORT STUDY

Objective: The global pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still spreading. Because this, it urgently necessary to develop quick, easy, and accurate assays identify severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. For the purpose diagnosing COVID-19 cases, quick SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection test’s performance attributes should be assessed contrasted with gold standard real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Methods: A retrospective analysis was done during January May, 2022 at IPGME&R SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, India. 2842 paired samples were taken from all patients reporting hospital for Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) RT-PCR. sensitivity specificity calculated evaluate RAT. Results: Of samples, 229 (8%) positive, 2613 (92%) negative RNA by RT-PCR rapid 77.29% (177 out 229) 99.54% (2601 2613), respectively. Positive predictive value 93.65% 93% Ct ≤35 result. Conclusion: RAT-positive are also positive test though RAT-negative patient symptom, further as bit low particularly in symptomatic respect Hence, we can conclude that specificity- sensitivity-wise method best, but pandemic/outbreak situation, RAT good alternative fast screening point-of-care detection.