Field performance evaluation of the PanBio rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen assay in an epidemic driven by the B.1.351 variant in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

South Africa was the African country with the most recorded cases of SARS-CoV-2 during 2020, experiencing 2 waves of infection. During the first wave, diagnostics were largely based on reverse transcription-linked PCR (RT-PCR). The Abbott PanBio antigen test was deployed during the 2nd wave which may have been driven by emergence of the B.1.351 variant. At the time of evaluation in mid-November 2020, B.1.351 was the dominant circulating virus in Nelson Mandela Bay, in the Eastern Cape Province.

Methods

Used PanBio antigen swabs (collected from patients with genetically characterised virus) were first validated as suitable for PCR. A prospective study was then undertaken to evaluate assay performance in the field. Testing was conducted at mobile community testing c

SUBMITTER: Akingba OL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8025602 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature