Evaluation of Three Immunoassays for the Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigens

Ilaria Baccani; Fabio Morecchiato; Chiara Chilleri; Chiara Cervini; Emanuele Gori; Daniela Matarrese; Andrea Bassetti; Manuela Bonizzoli; Jessica Mencarini; Alberto Antonelli; Gian Maria Rossolini

doi:10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2021.115434

Evaluation of Three Immunoassays for the Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigens

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2021 Oct;101(2):115434. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2021.115434. Epub 2021 May 21.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
² Microbiology and Virology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
³ Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Florence, Italy.
⁴ Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Prato Hospital, Prato, Italy.
⁵ Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, Bagno a Ripoli, Italy.
⁶ Intensive Care Unit and Regional ECMO Referral Center, Neuromusculosketal and Sensory Organs Department, Careggi University Hospital of Careggi, Florence, Italy.
⁷ Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
⁸ Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Microbiology and Virology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
⁹ Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Microbiology and Virology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: gianmaria.rossolini@unifi.it.

Abstract

Three assays for SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection in nasopharyngeal swabs (Lumipulse® G SARS-CoV-2 Ag [LPG], STANDARD^TM F COVID-19 Ag FIA [STF] and AFIAS COVID-19 Ag [AFC] were evaluated. Compared to RT-PCR, LPG, AFC and STF showed a variable sensitivity (87.9%, 37.5%, and 35.7%, respectively) and an overall high specificity (> 95%).

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; antigen; chemiluminescent assay; lateral flow immunofluorescence assay.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

Antigens, Viral / analysis
COVID-19 / diagnosis*
COVID-19 Serological Testing*
Humans
Immunoassay
Nasopharynx / virology
Point-of-Care Testing*
SARS-CoV-2 / immunology
SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification*
Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

Antigens, Viral