Low sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen self-tests under laboratory conditions

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2-antigen-testing has been proposed as a ‘game-changing’ tool to interrupt infection chains. Thereby European strategies focused on two pillars, namely rapid antigen tests conducted by health care experts and/or trained personal and so-called self-tests. Here, evidence is provided that these assays have a weak performance even under laboratory conditions.

Keywords

• Rapid antigen assays
• SARS-CoV-2
• self-testing