Home testing for COVID-19: Benefits and limitations
Gary W. Procop, Kamran Kadkhoda, Daniel D. Rhoads, Steven G. Gordon, Anita Reddy
Abstract
The home test kits for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection with Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorization primarily use either isothermal nucleic acid amplification or antigen detection, and each test has advantages and limitations in terms of sensitivity and specificity, cost, results reporting, and results turnaround time. In clinical studies, these tests provide accurate positive results in symptomatic individuals, although negative results are less accurate. There are also accuracy concerns for positive results in asymptomatic individuals. These factors have implications for their clinical interpretation and use.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineFood and drug administrationTurnaround timeAsymptomaticCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Nucleic Acid Amplification TestsIntensive care medicineAuthorization2019-20 coronavirus outbreakTest (biology)Emergency medicineVirologyMedical emergencyInternal medicineComputer securityInfectious disease (medical specialty)PaleontologyBiologyOperating systemOutbreakDiseaseComputer scienceChlamydia trachomatisSARS-CoV-2 detection and testingSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchBiosensors and Analytical Detection