Role of admission rapid antigen testing (RATs) for COVID-19 on patients transferred from acute hospitals to a postacute rehabilitation setting

Abstract

Background

Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are suitable for point-of-care testing, require no laboratory time, and give immediate results. However, are RATs useful for detecting asymptomatic COVID-19 infection when compared with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in health care settings?

Methods

RAT testing was carried out on all new admissions without a history of confirmed COVID-19 infection within 3 months of admission. PCR testing was carried out on all patients with a positive RAT for confirmation purposes. The cycle threshold values of COVID-19-detected results on PCR testing were examined to determine the utility of the RATs.

Results

A total of 1,403 patients were transferred to the postacute rehabilitation unit from January to December 2023. The results of the study revealed an 85% accuracy of RATs with a 15% rate of false-negative results at the time of admission. All patients who had a positive RAT at the time of admission also had a positive PCR test.

Conclusions

This testing algorithm resulted in early detection and prompt isolation of positive cases reducing the likely spread of COVID-19 infection, hospital outbreaks, and bed/ward closures.