Download This Paper
Preprints with The Lancet is part of SSRN´s First Look, a place where journals identify content of interest prior to publication. Authors have opted in at submission to The Lancet family of journals to post their preprints on Preprints with The Lancet. The usual SSRN checks and a Lancet-specific check for appropriateness and transparency have been applied. Preprints available here are not Lancet publications or necessarily under review with a Lancet journal. These preprints are early stage research papers that have not been peer-reviewed. The findings should not be used for clinical or public health decision making and should not be presented to a lay audience without highlighting that they are preliminary and have not been peer-reviewed. For more information on this collaboration, see the comments published in The Lancet about the trial period, and our decision to make this a permanent offering, or visit The Lancet´s FAQ page, and for any feedback please contact preprints@lancet.com.
Sars-CoV-2 Detection by Self-Testing: A Method that Makes Surveillance Programs Possible and Effective
20 Pages Posted: 12 Jan 2021
More...Abstract
Background: 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.
Methods: Between April and May 2020, the applicability of a self-testing strategy for SARS-CoV2 detection was evaluated in a population-based, cross-sectional study in Cantabria, Spain. For the self-testing strategy, participants received the necessary material for blood self-collection and performance of a rapid antibodies test using lateral flow immunoassay at home without the supervision of healthcare personnel.
Findings: A total of 1,022 participants were enrolled. The vast majority of participants correctly performed the COVID-19 self-test the first time (91.3% [95% IC 89.4-92.9]). Only a minority of participants (0.7%) needed the help of healthcare personnel, and 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 did not depend on the educational level, age over 65 years, or housing area. Prevalence of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV2 for subjects with a valid rapid test result was 3.1% (95% IC 2.2-4.4), similar to the seroprevalence result obtained using a conventional approach carried out by healthcare professionals.
Interpretation: A strategy of COVID-19 self-testing could be applied as a screening tool in surveillance programs.
Funding Statement: No funding.
Declaration of Interests: The authors report no relevant conflict of interest or
disclosures relevant to this manuscript.
Ethics Approval Statement: The Ethics Committee of investigation of Cantabria approved this study (code 2020.176) and written informed consent was obtained from all participants.
Keywords: SARS-CoV2, infectious diseases self-testing, point-of-care rapid test, virus control
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation