Evaluation of the AMP SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test in a hospital setting

OBJECTIVES: Quick and inexpensive SARS-CoV-2 screening and frontline testing are in growing demand. Our study aimed to evaluate the performance of the immunochromatographic AMP rapid antigen test (AMP RAT) compared to the gold-standard real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) in a hospital cohort. METHODS: A total of 392 patients, who presented consecutively with COVID-19 symptoms in our emergency department, were included in this retrospective study. Two swabs were collected per patient: a nasopharyngeal for the RAT and a combined naso- and oropharyngeal for the rRT-PCR. A positive rRT-PCR (defined as cycle threshold (Ct) < 40) was found in 94 (24%) patients. RESULTS: In our cohort with a median patient age of 70, overall sensitivity and specificity of the AMP RAT was 69.2% (58.8–78.3, 95% CI) and 99.7% (98.1–100.0, 95% CI), respectively. In patients with a Ct value < 25 and < 30, higher sensitivities of 100.0% (89.4–100.0, 95% CI) and 91.8% (81.9–97.3%, 95% CI) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The AMP RAT showed a high sensitivity in patients with a Ct value < 25 and < 30 and might be helpful for frontline testing whenever rRT-PCR is not readily available.