Can we trust in Sars-CoV-2 rapid antigen testing? Preliminary results from a paediatric cohort in the emergency department

Abstract

Background: Rapid identification of Covid-19 in the paediatric emergency department is critical; Antigen tests are fast but poorly investigated in children. Aims: To investigate Sars-CoV-2 antigen rapid test in children. Methods: We compare the performance of LumiraDx with molecular tests in a paediatric emergency department. Results: A retrospective cohort of 191 patients with AT and PCR tests performed in the same episode was analysed; 16% resulted positive for Sars-CoV-2. Using the PCR test as the gold standard, we calculated antigen testing overall sensitivity of 94.1%, specificity of 91.9%, and NPV of 99.4%. Only one false-negative test was found. Conclusions: AT may be helpful in the initial screening of patients at PED.