Over the Counter Rapid Antigen Test for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus: Human Usability Study

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The SARS-CoV-2 is a β-coronavirus, which is enveloped non-segmented positive-sense RNA virus 2. It is spread by human-to-human transmission via droplets or direct contact, and infection has been estimated to have mean incubation period of 6.4 days and a basic reproduction number of 2.24-3.58. Among patients with pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2, fever was the most common symptom, followed by cough. On 11 March 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak was characterized as a pandemic by the WHO. Since then, over 70 million people worldwide have been infected with the virus with over 1.5 million deaths attributed to the virus5. Laboratory testing for SARS-CoV-2 is currently being performed to determine if an individual has active infection via detection of viral RNA or if an individual has an immune response to the virus from a previous infection via detection of antibodies.

Specimen collection is a crucial first step in the evaluation of an individual's SARS-CoV-2 infection status. The goal of this project is to evaluate human usability of a rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen test for over the counter (OTC) use. Study subjects under EDP supervision, either in-person or via video conference, will collect and test anterior nasal swab samples. The Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test collection and testing methodology is viewed as a convenient and inexpensive method to test clinical specimens for SARS-CoV-2 and OTC access will improve the availability of COVD-19 testing.

The COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Device detects SARS-CoV-2 viral antigens through visual interpretation of color development. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are immobilized on the test region of the nitrocellulose membrane. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies conjugated to colored particles are immobilized on the conjugated pad. A sample is added to the extraction buffer which is optimized to release the SARS-CoV-2 antigens from specimen. During testing, the extracted antigens bind to anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies conjugated to colored particles. As the specimen migrates along the strip by capillary action and interacts with reagents on the membrane, the complex will be captured by the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at the test region. Excess colored particles are captured at the internal control zone. The presence of a colored band in the test region indicates a positive result for the SARS-CoV-2 viral antigens, while its absence indicates a negative result. A colored band at the control region serves as a procedural control, indicating that the proper volume of specimen has been added and membrane wicking is working. (See Appendix 1).