Exploring Workplace Testing with Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction SARS-CoV-2 Testing

Abstract

Background: Molecular tests (i.e. RT-PCR) and antigen tests are currently used to detect SARS-CoV-2. RT-PCR tests are generally considered to be the gold standard for clinical diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 due to their accuracy and reliability, but can take longer to return results than antigen tests.Objective: Examine if a point-of-care (POC) testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection would provide a flexible resource to help achieve workplace safety during this pandemic.Design: We compared the test results and time to test results between a POC RT-PCR test and a sendout PCR test for workplace screening in a workplace screening program implemented as part of the National Basketball Association (NBA) summer program in Orlando, Florida in the summer of 2020.Participants: We collected 978 samples from NBA support personnel at Disney World during the 2020 NBA Summer League subject to the NBA Universal Screening program.Main Measures: SARS-CoV-2 infection status as tested by the POC RT-PCR test and laboratory-based RT-PCR testing.Results: POC testing shorted the time to results to 110 minutes (SD 37 minutes) in the POC setting from the 754 minutes (SD 207 minutes) (p=0.00) for send-out tests. The specificity of Abstract POC RT-PCR single POC testing was 98.7% compared with send-out RT-PCR testing and was confirmed at 99.8% in a validation analysis. The sensitivity of the POC testing was 100% compared with send-out RT-PCR, although in a validation analysis, sensitivity appeared as 0% because only the 12 positive or indeterminate samples on the first analysis were retested and the majority were false-positives that were correctly ruled out.Conclusions: POC testing for SARS-CoV-2 with RT-PCR technology is possible at a greatly reduced time compared with send-out PCR testing.

Rapid and direct quantification of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with an ultrasensitive nanobody-based photonic nanosensor

“…1,2 However, its out-of-the-lab deployment as a point-of-care (POC) testing system is still a major limitation, mostly restricted by the sample processing needs ( e.g. , RNA extraction) and the sophisticated multi-step analytical process 3,4 or limitations in the field deployment of still quite complex and expensive equipment. As an alternative, immunochromatographic lateral flow assays (LFA) have been proposed and broadly employed as a rapid qualitative diagnostic test for COVID-19.…”

“…PCR-based assays are undoubtedly one of the most robust and precise existing techniques for disease diagnosis, offering outstanding sensitivity and specificity (96-98% and 99%, respectively), standardized procedures, and a relatively facile adaptation to emerging pathogens or biomarkers. 1,2 However, its out-of-the-lab deployment as a point-of-care (POC) testing system is still a major limitation, mostly restricted by the sample processing needs (e.g., RNA extraction) and the sophisticated multi-step analytical process 3,4 or limitations in the field deployment of still quite complex and expensive equipment. As an alternative, immunochromatographic lateral flow assays (LFA) have been proposed and broadly employed as a rapid qualitative diagnostic test for COVID-19.…”