Interpreting a lateral flow SARS-CoV-2 antigen test

Mytton, Oliver; McCarthy, Noel D.; Watson, Jessica; Whiting, Penny

doi:10.1136/bmj.n1411

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Though Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing data are available within SAIL for linkage studies, we chose not to use LFD data. Meta-analysis of LFD testing has found that it has poor sensitivity in detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection [ 19 ], and potentially provides high false positive rates when community cases rates are low [ 20 ]. Furthermore, as SARS-CoV-2 testing policy in Wales is that a positive lateral flow test be followed by a confirmatory PCR test, then people with SARS-CoV-2 identified through positive LFD tests would, in most cases, be recorded under the more reliable PCR testing process [ 21 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

population level study of SARS-CoV-2 prevalence amongst people experiencing homelessness in Wales, UK

Thomas

Mackie

2021

IJPDS

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IntroductionPrior research into the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst people experiencing homelessness (PEH) largely relates to people in communal forms of temporary accommodation in contexts where this type of accommodation remained a major part of the response to homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 amongst PEH more broadly, and in a policy and practice context that favoured self-contained accommodation, such as Wales, UK. ObjectiveDescribe the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 amongst PEH in Wales, UK, using routinely collected administrative data from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank. MethodsRoutinely collected data were used to identify PEH in Wales between 1st March 2020 and 1st March 2021. Using SARS-CoV-2 pathology testing data, prevalence rates were generated for PEH and three comparator groups: (1) the not-homeless population; (2) a cohort `exact matched' for age, sex, local authority and area deprivation; and (3) a matched comparison group created using these same variables and Propensity Score Matching (PSM). Three logistic regressions were run on samples containing each of the comparator groups to explore the effect of experiencing homelessness on testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. ResultsThe prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst PEH was 5.0%, compared to the not-homeless population at 5.6%. For the exact matched and PSM match comparator groups, prevalence was 6.9% and 6.7%, respectively. Logistic regression found that SARS-CoV-2 infection was 0.9 times less likely amongst PEH compared to people not experiencing homelessness from the general population. The odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection for PEH was 0.75 and 0.73 where the `not-homeless' comparators were from the exact match and PSM samples, respectively. ConclusionOur analysis revealed that a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 amongst PEH in Wales was lower than the general population. A policy response to homelessness that moved away from communal accommodation may be partly responsible for the reduced SAR-CoV-2 infection amongst PEH.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

population level study of SARS-CoV-2 prevalence amongst people experiencing homelessness in Wales, UK

Thomas

Mackie

2021

IJPDS

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“…Ct values only provide a guide on viral load and there is no consensus on a Ct value, which corresponds to infectiousness. 7 , 21 We used digital PCR to correlate Ct values with viral loads. Previous studies examined samples with an unspecified viral load.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing lateral flow testing with a rapid RT‐PCR method for SARS‐CoV‐2 detection in the United Kingdom—A retrospective diagnostic accuracy study

Taylor

Calvez

Fink

2022

Health Science Reports

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Background and Aims: In late 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, China. Rapid global spread led to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 has become a vitally important tool in controlling the spread of the virus. Lateral flow devices (LFDs) offer the potential advantage of speed and on-site testing. The sensitivity of these devices compared to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been questioned. Methods:We compared the sensitivity of the Innova LFD, used widely in the United Kingdom, with our rapid RT-PCR method using stored positive samples. Samples with a range of viral loads (original Ct values 18.9-36.5) were tested. Results:The Innova LFD was found to be 6000-10,000 times less sensitive than RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Overall, the LFD detected 46.2% of the positives detected by RT-PCR, with 50% of these observed to be weak LFD positives. At lower viral loads, such as 10,000-100,000 RNA copies/ml, the LFD detected 22.2% of positives. In addition, two strong positives (3 and 1.5 million RNA copies/ml) were not detected by the LFD. Conclusion:The argument for use of LFD kits is that they detect infectious virus and hence contagious individuals. However, there is a lack of conclusive evidence supporting this claim. The Innova LFD has been subject to a Class I recall by the US Food and Drug Administration, but is still approved and widely used in the United Kingdom.

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“…However, researchers compared 5869 people with both an LFD and a PCR test in mass testing in Liverpool. Seventy of these people were positive from the PCR tests and, of these 70, only 28 were positive on LFD tests, showing a sensitivity of about 40% [89]. Cardoso et al, 2021 [78] enumerated the molecular targets and mechanisms involved in several HDPs' activities and pharmacokinetics.…”

Section: Molecular Validation Techniques Used For Hdpsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomedical Relevance of Novel Anticancer Peptides in the Sensitive Treatment of Cancer

Bakare

Gokul

et al. 2021

Biomolecules

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The global increase in cancer mortality and economic losses necessitates the cautious quest for therapeutic agents with compensatory advantages over conventional therapies. Anticancer peptides (ACPs) are a subset of host defense peptides, also known as antimicrobial peptides, which have emerged as therapeutic and diagnostic candidates due to several compensatory advantages over the non-specificity of the current treatment regimens. This review aimed to highlight the ravaging incidence of cancer, the use of ACPs in cancer treatment with their mechanisms, ACP discovery and delivery methods, and the limitations for their use. This would create awareness for identifying more ACPs with better specificity, accuracy and sensitivity towards the disease. It would also promote their efficacious utilization in biotechnology, medical sciences and molecular biology to ease the severity of the disease and enable the patients living with these conditions to develop an accommodating lifestyle.

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Interpreting a lateral flow SARS-CoV-2 antigen test

Cited by 9 publications

References 14 publications

population level study of SARS-CoV-2 prevalence amongst people experiencing homelessness in Wales, UK

population level study of SARS-CoV-2 prevalence amongst people experiencing homelessness in Wales, UK

Comparing lateral flow testing with a rapid RT‐PCR method for SARS‐CoV‐2 detection in the United Kingdom—A retrospective diagnostic accuracy study

Biomedical Relevance of Novel Anticancer Peptides in the Sensitive Treatment of Cancer

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