Routine Antigen Testing Is Not a Substitute for Health Care Worker Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2

• Published in: Journal of clinical microbiology Vol. 59; no. 11; p. e0156421
• Main Authors: Sexton, Mary Elizabeth, Kraft, Colleen S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 1752 N St., N.W., Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 19.10.2021
• Subjects: Commentary
• ISSN: 0095-1137; 1098-660X; 1098-660X
• DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01564-21

The utility of rapid antigen testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is measured within the context for which it is applied; diagnostic accuracy must be considered in determining if rapid antigen testing is appropriate for the clinical situation. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology , J. The utility of rapid antigen testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is measured within the context for which it is applied; diagnostic accuracy must be considered in determining if rapid antigen testing is appropriate for the clinical situation. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology , J. N. Kanji, D. T. Proctor, W. Stokes, B. M. Berenger, et al. (J Clin Microbiol 59:e01411-21, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.01411-21 ) evaluate two rapid antigen tests that demonstrate high false-positive rates in asymptomatic health care workers. The assays may not be useful in situations where there is a shortage of staff, such as health care settings, since isolation would occur unnecessarily for these employees.