Validez y seguridad de las pruebas rápidas de detección de antígenos SARS COV-2 en comparación con la RT-PCR en pacientes con sospecha diagnóstica de COVID19 atendidos en triage del Hospital Homero Castanier Crespo, Azogues. Enero 2021- noviembre 2021

Abstract

BACKGROUND: coronavirus is a disease that mainly affects the respiratory system, it has produced three pandemics to date, the last one was recognized as such on March 11, 2020, reporting the first case in China. OBJECTIVE: to determine the validity and safety of rapid tests for the detection of SARS COV-2 antigens compared to RT-PCR in patients with diagnostic suspicion of COVID19, treated in triage at the hospital Homero Castanier Crespo, in the city of Azogues, during January 2021- November 2021 METHODOLOGY: diagnostic test validation study. We worked with a universe made up of 538 patients medical records, who met the criteria established in this investigation. Statistical formulas were applied in order to know the validity and safety of the rapid antigen test in comparison with the Gold standard RT-PCR. RESULTS: the mean was 39.3 years; the female sex presented a frequency of 55.2%; travel history 1.7%; epidemiological link 21.9%; 54.1% worked in the private sector, the antigen test had a sensitivity of 27.5% and a specificity of 90.1%, a PPV of 61% and a NPV of 69%. CONCLUSIONS: the results showed that rapid antigen detection tests were located in an area of diagnostic uncertainty, which means that they do not rule out and do not confirm the presence of COVID-19, however, it is important to point out their usefulness in primary care since this level does not have the necessary tools to carry out more complex tests.