Rinse and Repeat: Serial Testing for Optimal Sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 Home Antigen Tests

Sensitivity of self-testing at home peaked a few days after symptom onset; serial testing improved sensitivity.

Home antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 are simple to use and widely available but are less sensitive than RT-PCR tests. CDC investigators conducted a prospective study to define optimal use of home antigen tests. In a convenience sample from 107 households at two U.S. locations in early 2021 (prior to the Delta wave), 225 individuals with positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR results performed daily antigen self-testing for 14 days. Nasopharyngeal swabs for viral culture and repeat RT-PCR were obtained by clinicians at study enrollment and day 14; in a subset of participants, daily nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained for 7 days after enrollment.

Four days after symptom onset, antigen test positivity peaked at 77%; it then declined to 61% (day 6) and 16% (day…

Reviewing Author

Daniel Kaul, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNobelpharma; Pfizer

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Transplantation (Program Committee)

Daniel Kaul, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNobelpharma; Pfizer

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Transplantation (Program Committee)

Rinse and Repeat: Serial Testing for Optimal Sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 Home Antigen Tests

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Reviewing Author