scholarly journals Clinical Application of a New SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Detection Kit (Colloidal Gold) in the Detection of COVID-19

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 995
Author(s):  
Evangelos Terpos ◽  
Ioannis Ntanasis-Stathopoulos ◽  
Miha Skvarč

The precise diagnosis of COVID-19 is of outmost importance in order to effectively treat patients and prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Herein, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the COVID-19 Antigen Detection Kit (Colloidal Gold—CG) compared with PCR in nasopharyngeal and nasal samples. A total of 114 positive and 244 negative nasopharyngeal specimens confirmed by PCR were used in this comparative study. When the PCR positive Cycle Threshold (Ct) value was ≤25, CG sensitivity was 100%. When the PCR positive Ct value was ≤33, CG sensitivity was 99%. When the PCR positive Ct value was ≤40, CG sensitivity was 89.47%. Regarding nasal swabs, a total of 109 positive and 250 negative specimens confirmed by PCR were used. When the PCR positive Ct value was ≤25, CG sensitivity was 100%. When the PCR positive Ct value was ≤33, CG sensitivity was 96.12%. When the PCR positive Ct value was ≤37, CG sensitivity was 91.74%. Specificity was above 99% regardless of the Ct value of PCR positivity for both nasopharyngeal and nasal specimens. Overall, the CG showed high sensitivity and specificity when the PCR Ct value was less than 33. Therefore, CG can be used for screening early in the disease course. Confirmatory PCR is essential when a false negative result is suspected.

Author(s):  
J. J.J.M. Stohr ◽  
V. F. Zwart ◽  
G. Goderski ◽  
A. Meijer ◽  
C. R.S. Nagel-Imming ◽  
...  

AbstractIntroductionSelf-testing for COVID-19 infection with lateral flow assay SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen detection tests (RDT), provides rapid results and could enable frequent and extensive testing in the community, thereby improving the control of SARS-CoV-2. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of self-testing using RDT without assistance.MethodsParticipants visiting a municipal SARS-CoV-2 testing centre, received self-testing kits containing either the BD Veritor System (BD RDT) or Roche SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection test (Roche RDT). Oro-nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from the participants for qRT-PCR testing. As a proxy for contagiousness, viral culture was performed on a selection of qRT-PCR positive samples to determine the Ct-value at which the chance of a positive culture was dropping below 0.5 (Ct-value cut-off). Sensitivity and specificity of self-testing were compared to qRT-PCR with a Ct-value below the Ct value cut-off. Determinants independently associated with a false-negative self-test result were determined.ResultsA total of 3,215 participants were included (BD RDT n=1604; Roche RDT n=1611). Sensitivity and specificity of self-testing compared to the qRT-PCR results with Ct-value below the Ct-value cut-off was 78.0% (95% CI:72.5-82.8) and 99.4% (95%CI: 99.0-99.6) respectively. Determinants independently associated with a false-negative self-testing results were: higher age, low viral load and finding self-testing difficult.DiscussionSelf-testing using currently available RDT’s has a high specificity and relatively high sensitivity to identify individuals with a high probability of contagiousness. The performance of two tests were comparable. This application has the potential for frequent and extensive testing which may be an aid to lift restrictions to society while controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2.


2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-148
Author(s):  
Michael Schonberger ◽  
Philippe Lefere ◽  
Abraham H. Dachman

The accuracy of computed tomography (CT) colonography (CTC) requires that the radiologist be well trained in the recognition of pitfalls of interpretation. In order to achieve a high sensitivity and specificity, the interpreting radiologist must be well versed in the causes of both false-positive and false-negative results. In this article, we review the common and uncommon pitfalls of interpretation in CTC.


1991 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 537-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
K X Gao ◽  
J D Godkin

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is an excellent embedding medium for immunohistochemical studies. It provides structural preservation superior to frozen sections and increased sensitivity of antigen detection compared with paraffin sections. One limitation of PEG embedment is that PEG sections are difficult to handle and adhere poorly to glass slides. Here we present a simple and effective method for embedding tissues in PEG and transferring the resultant sections onto silanated glass slides. In addition, a method for silver enhanced colloidal gold immunostaining was combined with common dye staining to demonstrate the excellent structure preservation and sensitive antigen detection. Bovine chorionic membrane was fixed with Bouin's fixative, embedded in polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1500, cut into 5-microns sections, flattened over agarose blocks (10 x 10 x 2 mm3), and blotted onto Digene silanated slides. Slides were then washed in PBS, which removed the PEG and agarose blocks. Tissue sections were immunocytochemically stained with dilute antiserum raised in a rabbit against purified bovine placental retinol binding protein (bpRBP). Sections were washed and incubated with 1-nm colloidal gold-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG. The immunogold particles were enhanced by silver staining (IGSS). Specimens were observed and photographed with an Olympus epipolarization microscope. The new method offered excellent morphological preservation of cell structure and the epipolarization microscopy provided high sensitivity for detection of specific immunogold-silver particles.


Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 95 (8) ◽  
pp. e1017-e1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel D. Rhoads ◽  
Aleksandra Wrona ◽  
Aaron Foutz ◽  
Janis Blevins ◽  
Kathleen Glisic ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo present the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center's (NPDPSC’s) experience using CSF real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) as a diagnostic test, to examine factors associated with false-negative RT-QuIC results, and to investigate the impact of RT-QuICs on prion disease surveillance.MethodsBetween May 2015 and April 2018, the NPDPSC received 10,498 CSF specimens that were included in the study. Sensitivity and specificity analyses were performed on 567 autopsy-verified cases. Prion disease type, demographic characteristics, specimen color, and time variables were examined for association with RT-QuIC results. The effect of including positive RT-QuIC cases in prion disease surveillance was examined.ResultsThe diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of RT-QuIC across all prion diseases were 90.3% and 98.5%, respectively. Diagnostic sensitivity was lower for fatal familial insomnia, Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease, sporadic fatal insomnia, variably protease sensitive prionopathy, and the VV1 and MM2 subtypes of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Individuals with prion disease and negative RT-QuIC results were younger and had lower tau levels and nonelevated 14-3-3 levels compared to RT-QuIC–positive cases. Sensitivity was high throughout the disease course. Some cases that initially tested RT-QuIC negative had a subsequent specimen test positive. Including positive RT-QuIC cases in surveillance statistics increased laboratory-based case ascertainment of prion disease by 90% over autopsy alone.ConclusionsRT-QuIC has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing prion diseases. Sensitivity limitations are associated with prion disease type, age, and related CSF diagnostic results. RT-QuIC greatly improves laboratory-based prion disease ascertainment for surveillance purposes.Classification of evidenceThis study provides Class III evidence that second-generation RT-QuIC identifies prion disease with a sensitivity of 90.3% and specificity of 98.5% among patients being screened for these diseases due to concerning symptoms.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chutikarn Chaimayo ◽  
Bualan Kaewnaphan ◽  
Nattaya Tanlieng ◽  
Niracha Athipanyasilp ◽  
Rujipas Sirijatuphat ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread across the world. Hence, there is an urgent need for rapid, simple, and accurate tests to diagnose severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Performance characteristics of the rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection test should be evaluated and compared with the gold standard real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for diagnosis of COVID-19 cases. Methods The rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection test, Standard™ Q COVID-19 Ag kit (SD Biosensor®, Republic of Korea), was compared with the real-time RT-PCR test, Allplex™ 2019-nCoV Assay (Seegene®, Korea) for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory specimens. Four hundred fifty-four respiratory samples (mainly nasopharyngeal and throat swabs) were obtained from COVID-19 suspected cases and contact individuals, including pre-operative patients at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand during March–May 2020. Results Of 454 respiratory samples, 60 (13.2%) were positive, and 394 (86.8%) were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by real-time RT-PCR assay. The duration from onset to laboratory test in COVID-19 suspected cases and contact individuals ranged from 0 to 14 days with a median of 3 days. The rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection test’s sensitivity and specificity were 98.33% (95% CI, 91.06–99.96%) and 98.73% (95% CI, 97.06–99.59%), respectively. One false negative test result was from a sample with a high real-time RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct), while five false positive test results were from specimens of pre-operative patients. Conclusions The rapid assay for SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection showed comparable sensitivity and specificity with the real-time RT-PCR assay. Thus, there is a potential use of this rapid and simple SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection test as a screening assay.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakarya Abusrewil ◽  
Inas M Alhudiri ◽  
Hamza Kaal ◽  
Salah Edin El Meshri ◽  
Fawzi O Ebrahim ◽  
...  

Background: There is a great demand for more rapid tests for SARS-COV-2 detection to reduce waiting time, boost public health strategies for combating disease, decrease costs, and prevent overwhelming laboratory capacities. This study was conducted to assess the performance of 10 antigen-based rapid assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swab specimens. Methods: We analyzed 231 nasopharyngeal samples collected from October 2020-December 2020, from suspected COVID-19 cases and contacts of positive cases at Biotechnology Research Center laboratories, Tripoli, Libya. The performance of 10 COVID-19 Ag rapid test devices (Fluorecare, ESPLINE, RapiGen, Abbott Panbio, Flowflex, Acon, Assut Europe, Orient Gene, CerTest, Bioperfectus, AMP) for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen was compared to RT-qPCR. Results: Among the 108 positive samples detected by RT-qPCR, the COVID-19 antigen (Ag) tests detected 83, giving a sensitivity of 76.85% (95% CI, 67.75- 84.43). 161 patients were symptomatic. The median cycle threshold was 25. The mean duration from symptom onset was 6.6 plus/minus 4.3 days. Sensitivity and specificity during the first 6 days of symptoms and in samples with high viral loads ct<25, was 96.4%. No false positives were detected by any of the Ag tests utilized in this study. False negative samples had a median Ct of 34 and average duration of onset of symptoms of 11.3 days (range=5-20). Conclusions: Rapid antigen test diagnosis has high sensitivity and specificity in early disease when patients present less than 7 days of symptom onset. Patients are encouraged to test as soon as they get COVID-19 related symptoms within 1 week and to seek medical advice within 24 hrs. if they develop disturbed smell/taste. The use of rapid antigen tests is important for controlling COVID-19 pandemic and reducing burden on molecular diagnostic laboratories.


2020 ◽  
pp. jmedgenet-2020-107353
Author(s):  
Jan Hauke ◽  
Philipp Harter ◽  
Corinna Ernst ◽  
Alexander Burges ◽  
Sandra Schmidt ◽  
...  

Variant-specific loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analyses may be useful to classify BRCA1/2 germline variants of unknown significance (VUS). The sensitivity and specificity of this approach, however, remains unknown. We performed comparative next-generation sequencing analyses of the BRCA1/2 genes using blood-derived and tumour-derived DNA of 488 patients with ovarian cancer enrolled in the observational AGO-TR1 trial (NCT02222883). Overall, 94 pathogenic, 90 benign and 24 VUS were identified in the germline. A significantly increased variant fraction (VF) of a germline variant in the tumour indicates loss of the wild-type allele; a decreased VF indicates loss of the variant allele. We demonstrate that significantly increased VFs predict pathogenicity with high sensitivity (0.84, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.91), poor specificity (0.63, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.73) and poor positive predictive value (PPV; 0.71, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.79). Significantly decreased VFs predict benignity with low sensitivity (0.26, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.35), high specificity (1.0, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.00) and PPV (1.0, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.00). Variant classification based on significantly increased VFs results in an unacceptable proportion of false-positive results. A significantly decreased VF in the tumour may be exploited as a reliable predictor for benignity, with no false-negative result observed. When applying the latter approach, VUS identified in four patients can now be considered benign. Trial registration numberNCT02222883.


2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 693-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Ho Oh ◽  
Cheolkyu Jung ◽  
Tae Hong Lee ◽  
Bae Ju Kwon ◽  
Young Kim ◽  
...  

Fluoroscopic images for comparison (FICs) can be easily obtained for follow-up on an outpatient basis. This study retrospectively assessed the diagnostic performance of a set of FICs for evaluation of recanalization after stent-assisted coiling, with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the reference standard. A total of 124 patients harboring 144 stent-assisted coiled aneurysms were included. At least one month postembolization they underwent follow-up angiograms comprising a routine frontal and lateral DSA and a working-angle DSA. For analysis, FICs should be compared with the mask images of postprocedural DSAs to find recanalization. Instead of FIC acquisition, the mask images of follow-up DSAs were taken as a substitute because of the same view-making processes as FICs, full availability, and perfect coincidence with follow-up DSAs. Two independent readers evaluated a set of 169 FICs and DSA images for the presence of recanalization one month apart. Sensitivity, specificity, and interreader agreement were determined. Recanalization occurred in 24 (14.2%) cases. Of these, nine (5.3%) cases were found to have significant recanalization in need of retreatment. Sensitivity and specificity rates were 79.2% (19 of 24) and 95.9% (139 of 145) respectively for reader 1, and 66.7% (16 of 24) and 97.9% (142 of 145) for reader 2. Minimal recanalization was identified in seven out of all eight false negative cases. Excluding minimally recanalized cases in no need for retreatment from the recanalization group, calculation resulted in high sensitivity and specificity of over 94% for both readers. Interreader agreement between the two readers was excellent (96.4%; κ = 0.84). FICs may be a good imaging modality to detect significant recanalization of stent-assisted coiled aneurysms.


2003 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 862-865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn M. Herrmann ◽  
William P. Cheevers ◽  
Katherine L. Marshall ◽  
Travis C. McGuire ◽  
Melinda M. Hutton ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT A competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) for detection of antibodies to the surface envelope (SU) of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) was recently reported (L. M. Herrmann, W. P. Cheevers, T. C. McGuire, D. Scott Adams, M. M. Hutton, W. G. Gavin, and D. P. Knowles, Clin. Diagn. Lab. Immunol. 10:267-271, 2003). The cELISA utilizes CAEV-63 SU captured on microtiter plates using the monoclonal antibody (MAb) F7-299 and measures competitive displacement of binding of the anti-CAEV MAb GPB 74A by goat serum. The present study evaluated the CAEV cELISA for detection of antibodies to ovine progressive pneumonia virus (OPPV) in sheep. Three hundred thirty-two sera were randomly selected from 21,373 sheep sera collected throughout the United States to determine the sensitivity and specificity of cELISA and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) based on immunoprecipitation (IP) of [35S]methionine-labeled OPPV antigens as a standard of comparison. A positive cELISA test was defined as >20.9 percent inhibition (% I) of MAb 74A binding based on two standard deviations above the mean % I of 191 IP-negative sheep sera. At this cutoff, there were 2 of 141 false-negative sera (98.6% sensitivity) and 6 of 191 false-positive sera (96.9% specificity). Sensitivity and specificity values for IP-monitored AGID were comparable to those for cELISA for 314 of 332 sera with unambiguous AGID results. Concordant results by cELISA and IP resolved 16 of the 18 sera that were indeterminate by AGID. Additional studies evaluated cELISA by using 539 sera from a single OPPV-positive flock. Based on IP of 36 of these sera, there was one false-negative by cELISA among 21 IP-positive sera (95.5% sensitivity) and 0 of 15 false-positives (100% specificity). We conclude that the CAEV cELISA can be applied to detection of OPPV antibodies in sheep with high sensitivity and specificity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 553-558
Author(s):  
Anil M. Solanki ◽  
Saumyajit Basu ◽  
Amitava Biswas ◽  
Subhendu Roy ◽  
Aditya Banta

Study Design: Prospective matched cohort study Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of Gene Xpert in the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis. Methods: From January 2016 to August 2018, Gene Xpert results were prospectively studied in 68 patients of clinicoradiologically suspected spinal tuberculosis (STB) and a control group (CG) of 92 patients, all of whom underwent computed tomography–guided/C-arm-guided/open surgical biopsy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value are obtained using standard equations. Results: Out of 68 cases of STB, Gene Xpert was positive in 62 (true positive: 62/68) and negative in 6 (false negative: 6/68). Gene Xpert was negative for all 92 cases of CG (true negative: 92/92, false positive 0/92). Thus, in our series, sensitivity of Gene Xpert is 91.18%, specificity is 100%, positive predictive value is 100%, and negative predictive value is 93.88%. Out of all cases of STB, 62/68 (91.18%) were Gene Xpert positive, but only 35/64 (54.69%) was acid-fast bacilli (AFB) culture positive and 53/60(88.33%) was histopathologically conclusive of TB. Also, Gene Xpert was positive in 7/7 (100%) cases of STB in which histopathology were inconclusive and 25/29 (86.21%) cases of STB in which AFB culture was negative. Conclusion: In STB, Gene Xpert clearly outperforms AFB culture and histopathology due to its high sensitivity and specificity apart from being rapid in diagnosis. Hence it is justified to diagnose spinal tuberculosis by Gene Xpert though histopathology is confirmative and AFB culture remains the gold standard.


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