Centro Escolar University - Malolos offers a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology which is located at Km 44 MacArthur Highway, City of Malolos, Bulacan. As part of the requirements for the subject Expository Writing for Global Communication, a comparative study will be conducted on the accuracy of two (2) COVID-19 testing procedures, the antigen test and the RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test.

A pandemic is a global disease outbreak that causes more deaths than an epidemic. COVID-19, a contagious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Wuhan, China, in 2019. The virus can spread through droplets emitted by an infected person or touching surfaces with the virus and touching an infected person's eyes, nose, or mouth. As of 2021, there are over 240 million confirmed COVID-19 positive cases and over 4.9 million fatalities worldwide.

The antigen test and RT-PCR test are two (2) procedures of detecting the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. To perform the COVID-19 tests, a healthcare practitioner collects a swab sample from the throat and back of the nose. An antigen test can detect coronavirus antibodies in an infected person, which can be done at home. Meanwhile, the RT-PCR test will reveal genetic material in the sample, specifically the virus's ribonucleic acid (RNA). The RT-PCR test is generally more accurate than antigen testing, but it requires 2-3 days of analysis before results are released.

The research problem aims to compare the accuracy of the two (2) COVID-19 testing procedures, the antigen test, and the RT-PCR test. The study aims to answer the following questions to ensure objectivity in the research:

1. How accurate is the antigen test in detecting COVID-19?

2. What is the percentage of effectiveness of the RT-PCR test in identifying COVID-19?

3. Is there a significant difference in diagnosing COVID-19 using an antigen test versus an RT-PCR test?

4. What are the conclusions drawn from the study comparing the antigen test and the RT-PCR test?

In conclusion, the comparative study on the accuracy of detecting COVID-19 through the antigen test and the RT-PCR test aims to provide a valuable contribution to the ongoing efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic through accurate testing and diagnosis.

Investigating the Accuracy of Antigen Tests and RT-PCR Tests in detecting COVID-19

Despite the emergence of multiple COVID-19 vaccines, challenges in manufacturing, distribution, and adoption suggest that achieving herd immunity will be a long-term goal. Consequently, testing, contact tracing, and isolating infectious cases continue to be crucial strategies for reducing COVID-19 transmission. Testing plays a vital role in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by identifying infected individuals and preventing any further person-to-person transmission. According to Sanchez (2020), testing is also critical in the broader public health context of mitigation efforts as it assists experts in characterizing the disease's prevalence, dispersal, and infectiousness. COVID-19 tests are conducted in commercial, private, and academic labs, as well as state and county health labs, and are also available for at-home use. (UC Davis Health, 2021).

As the availability of testing has grown, epidemiological challenges around the appropriate use of different testing methods have emerged. Diagnostic methods for SARS-CoV-2, which do not accurately reflect viral carriage, are divided into two categories: antigen testing and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) immunoassay (Love et al., 2021). Antigen testing has been criticized for frequently producing inaccurate results. Most antigen tests have a sensitivity of between 50% and 90%, which means that one out of every two infected individuals may be incorrectly informed that they do not have the virus. (Service, 2020). However, RT-PCR testing has also been implicated in producing false-negative and false-positive results. The risk of producing false-negative and false-positive results is a significant concern with the real-time RT-PCR test. Reports indicate that multiple 'suspected' patients with typical COVID-19 clinical features and similar particular computed tomography (CT) scans were not detected (Ardebili & Tahamtan, 2020). The aim of this literature review is to compare the accuracy of antigen tests and RT-PCR tests in detecting COVID-19 virus infections. Additionally, it illustrates how antigen tests and RT-PCR tests work in detecting COVID-19.

Antigen Test

Antigen testing is commonly employed to diagnose respiratory infections such as influenza and respiratory syncytial viruses. Antigen tests are immunoassays that identify the presence of a specific viral antigen, indicating that the individual is currently infected with the virus. Antigen tests are usually affordable, and most of them can be conducted at the point of care. Majority of currently approved tests yield results in approximately 15–30 minutes. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). An antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 begins with a healthcare professional swabbing mucus from the back of an individual's throat or nose. The swab is then placed in a liquid to dissolve the mucus and release the virus. (Wu, 2020). The sensitivity of antigen tests ranges depending on the infection stage but is considered "moderate to high" during peak viral loads. Compared to molecular tests, antigen testing is more likely to yield false-negative results, especially when performed on individuals who do not display symptoms. (Macmillan, 2021).

RT-PCR Test

This test is extensively utilized to diagnose COVID-19 virus infections. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) is one of the most commonly used laboratory techniques for identifying the COVID-19 virus. RT-PCR, which is a nuclear-derived technique, is used to identify the presence of specific genetic material in any pathogen, including viruses (Jawreth, 2020). The COVID-19 virus is detected by the PCR test by detecting its genetic material (RNA) using a process called reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). PCR testing is presently the most reliable diagnostic test for COVID-19 virus infections, and it has a minimal risk of producing false-negative results (A false-negative result occurs when an individual tests negative for the virus while being infected.). (Allarakha, 2021).

Conclusion

The accuracy of antigen tests and RT-PCR tests in detecting COVID-19 virus infections has been analyzed. Both tests have their advantages and drawbacks. Antigen tests are rapid and inexpensive but are less sensitive than RT-PCR tests. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the most accurate test for diagnosing COVID-19 virus infections but is more expensive and requires a specialized laboratory. Despite the challenges, testing for COVID-19 remains a crucial component of our strategy for controlling the pandemic. Effective testing, contact tracing, and case isolation must be sustained until herd immunity is achieved.

After conducting a study, it was found that the accuracy of the antigen test in detecting SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is significantly lower than the RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test. The researchers concluded that the antigen test has a sensitivity of 41.2% and a specificity of 98.4%, while the RT-PCR test has a near 100% accuracy rate. The RT-PCR test has a sensitivity of 72.1% for symptomatic patients, a specificity of 98.7% for symptomatic patients, and a specificity of 99.5% for asymptomatic patients. Both tests are reliable in detecting COVID-19, and the CDC recommends the use of both depending on the specific situation.

Sources:

- Allarakha, S. (2021). What Is the Difference Between a PCR Nasal Swab and a COVID-19 Antigen Test? MedicineNet.

- Aradebili, A. & Tahamtan, A. (2020). Real-time RT-PCR in COVID-19 detection: issues affecting the results. National Center for Biotechnology Information.

- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Interim Guidance for Antigen Testing for SARS-CoV-2.

- Cleveland Clinic. (2020). COVID-19 and PCR testing.

- Curley, B. (2020). How Accurate Are COVID-19 Diagnostic and Antibody Tests? Healthline.

- Duncan, A. (2020). 3 Types of COVID-19 Tests, and Which One Is the Most Accurate. Health.

- Groover, N. (2020). PCR, antigen and antibody: Five things to know about coronavirus tests. Horizon Magazine.

- International Sanitization and Protection Suppliers. (2020). COVID-19 Testing.

- Jawreth, N. (2020). How is the COVID-19 Virus Detected using Real Time RT-PCR? International Atomic Energy Agency.

- Kandola, A. (2021). Coronavirus testing: How does it work? Medical News Today.

The following sources were used to gather information on COVID-19 testing:

1. Macmillan, C. (2021) A Guide to Choosing the Right COVID-19 Test. Retrieved on October 22, 2021 from https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/which-covid-test-is-accurate.

2. Moore, S. (2021) A Look Into the History of COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.news-medical.net/health/History-of-COVID-19.aspx.

3. Robinson, J. (2020) Pandemics: What Are They? Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/what-are-epidemics-pandemics-outbreaks.

4. Sanchez, E. (2020) The Importance of COVID-19 Testing. Retrieved on October 20, 2021 from https://www.heart.org/en/news/2020/04/02/covid-19-science-why-testing-is-so-important.

5. Service, R. (2020) Can Antigen Tests for Coronavirus be Trusted? Retrieved on October 22, 2021 from https://www.science.org/content/article/coronavirus-antigen-tests-quick-and-cheap-too-often-wrong.

6. Shmerling, R. (2021) Which COVID-19 Test is Best? Retrieved on October 23, 2021 from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/which-test-is-best-for-covid-19-2020081020734.

7. UNILABS (2021) Antigen Testing for COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/coronavirus-testing.

8. UC Davis Health (2021) What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Testing. Retrieved on October 20, 2021 from https://health.ucdavis.edu/coronavirus/coronavirus-testing.html.

9. World Health Organization (2020) COVID-19 Testing Explained. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/media-resources/science-in-5/episode-14---covid-19---tests.

10. Wu, E. (2020) Antigen Tests for COVID-19: Fast, Easy, and Somewhat Inaccurate. Retrieved on October 20, 2021 from https://theconversation.com/antigen-tests-for-covid-19-are-fast-and-easy-and-could-solve-the-coronavirus-testing-problem-despite-being-somewhat-inaccurate-137977.