Feasibility of large-scale population testing for SARS-CoV-2 detection by self-testing at home

Autor: Paula Iruzubieta, Tatiana Fernández-Lanas, Laura Rasines, Lorena Cayon, Ana Álvarez-Cancelo, Alvaro Santos-Laso, Agustín García-Blanco, Soraya Curiel-Olmo, Joaquín Cabezas, Reinhard Wallmann, Emilio Fábrega, Víctor M. Martínez-Taboada, José L. Hernández, Marcos López-Hoyos, Jeffrey V. Lazarus, Javier Crespo
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Scientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2021)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2045-2322
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89236-x
Popis: Abstract The simplicity and low cost of rapid point-of-care tests greatly facilitate large-scale population testing, which can contribute to controlling the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We evaluated the applicability of a self-testing strategy for SARS-CoV2 in a population-based, cross-sectional study in Cantabria, Spain, between April and May 2020. For the self-testing strategy, participants received the necessary material for the self-collection of blood and performance of a rapid antibody test using lateral flow immunoassay at home without the supervision of healthcare personnel. A total of 1,022 participants were enrolled. Most participants correctly performed the COVID-19 self-test the first time (91.3% [95% CI 89.4–92.9]). Only a minority of the participants (0.7%) needed the help of healthcare personnel, while 6.9% required a second kit delivery, for a total valid test result in 96.9% of the participants. Incorrect use of the self-test was not associated with the educational level, age over 65, or housing area. Prevalence of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV2 for subjects with a valid rapid test result was 3.1% (95% CI 2.2–4.4), similar to the seroprevalence result obtained using a conventional approach carried out by healthcare professionals. In conclusion, COVID-19 self-testing should be considered as a screening tool.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals