HINDERING SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test

COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease) is the infectious disease caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, fatigue, sputum production, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache, and so on.COVID-19 is transmitted via respiratory droplets that are exhaled by infected people via coughing, sneezing or talking. These droplets can be inhaled or ingested directly by other people or can contaminate surfaces, which can then be infectious for several days. Most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 1 to 14 days, during which people might already be infectious without showing disease symptoms.

Results are for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein antigen. Antigen is generally detectable in upper respiratory specimens during the acute phase of infection. Positive results indicate the presence of viral antigens, but clinical correlation with patient history and other diagnostic information is necessary to determine infection status. Positive results do not rule out bacterial infection or coinfection with other viruses. The agent detected may not be the definite cause of disease.

Negative results should be treated as presumptive and confirmation with a molecular assay, if necessary, for patient management, may be performed. Negative results do not rule out SARS-CoV-2 infection and should not be used as the sole basis for treatment or patient management decisions including infection control decisions. Negative results should be considered in the context of a patient’s recent exposures, history and the presence of clinical signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19.Individuals who test negative and continue to experience COVID-like symptoms

should seek follow up care from their healthcare provider.