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. 2023 Mar 3;13(5):972.
doi: 10.3390/diagnostics13050972.

Evaluation of the Diagnostic Performance of a SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A/B Combo Rapid Antigen Test in Respiratory Samples

Harika Öykü Dinç  1 , Nuran Karabulut  2 , Sema Alaçam  2 , Hayriye Kırkoyun Uysal  3 , Ferhat Osman Daşdemir  4 , Mustafa Önel  3 , Yeşim Tuyji Tok  4 , Serhat Sirekbasan  5 , Ali Agacfidan  3 , Nesrin Gareayaghi  6 , Hüseyin Çakan  7 , Önder Yüksel Eryiğit  8 , Bekir Kocazeybek  4
Affiliations

Evaluation of the Diagnostic Performance of a SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A/B Combo Rapid Antigen Test in Respiratory Samples

Harika Öykü Dinç et al. Diagnostics (Basel). .

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the performance characteristics of a rapid antigen test developed to detect SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), influenza A virus (IAV), and influenza B virus (IBV) (flu) compared with those of the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) method. One hundred SARS-CoV-2, one hundred IAV, and twenty-four IBV patients whose diagnoses were confirmed by clinical and laboratory methods were included in the patient group. Seventy-six patients, who were negative for all respiratory tract viruses, were included as the control group. The Panbio™ COVID-19/Flu A&B Rapid Panel test kit was used in the assays. The sensitivity values of the kit were 97.5%, 97.9%, and 33.33% for SARS-CoV-2, IAV, and IBV, respectively, in samples with a viral load below 20 Ct values. The sensitivity values of the kit were 16.7%, 36.5%, and 11.11% for SARS-CoV-2, IAV, and IBV, respectively, in samples with a viral load above 20 Ct. The kit's specificity was 100%. In conclusion, this kit demonstrated high sensitivity to SARS-CoV-2 and IAV for viral loads below 20 Ct values, but the sensitivity values were not compatible with PCR positivity for lower viral loads over 20 Ct values. Rapid antigen tests may be preferred as a routine screening tool in communal environments, especially in symptomatic individuals, when diagnosing SARS-CoV-2, IAV, and IBV with high caution.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; antigen tests; influenza A; influenza B; rapid test.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The Panbio™ COVID-19/Flu A&B Rapid Panel (nasopharyngeal) test results. The control line (C) begins to appear around 3–4 min following the application of the sample–buffer mixture on the device. The other line will also appear next to the test lines when the samples contain antigens of influenza B (Flu B line), influenza A (Flu A line), or SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 line). One line on the C marker indicates that the test is negative. Two lines—one on C and one on either Flu-B, Flu-A, or COVID-19 markers—indicate that the test is positive either for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, or influenza B.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test results in rRT-PCR Ct values.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of influenza A rapid antigen test results in rRT-PCR Ct values.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Comparison of influenza B rapid antigen test results in rRT-PCR Ct values.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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