Validity of the Rapid Nasopharyngeal Antigen Swab for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 on Cadavers

Validity of the Rapid Nasopharyngeal Antigen Swab for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 on Cadavers

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Background: SARS-CoV-2 is classified as a class 3 biological agent; therefore, autopsies on positive subjects must be performed in BSL 3 sectorial here rooms.However, many centers lacking such facilities perform molecular nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 on corpses before autopsy.This approach, though, is marked by prolonged reporting times and extremely high costs.This study aims to compare the results of molecular swabs (RT-PCR) with rapid antigen swabs (RAT) in order to assess if RAT can serve as the sole test for determining corpse positivity or negativity.

Methods: Sixty corpses with positive molecular nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2, performed either ante-mortem or post-mortem, were selected.Afterward, they underwent rapid antigen swabs within 0 to 11 days after the last molecular exam.Results: Out of 60 corpses with positive molecular swabs, 52 antigen swabs were positive (86.67%), and 8 were negative (13.

33%), indicating a sensitivity of 86.66% and specificity of 100%.Conclusions: Considering click here the sensitivity and specificity values observed in this study, RAT could be used as the primary investigation on corpses, especially in centers that lack BSL 3 sectorial rooms.Molecular swabs could then serve as a secondary test for subjects negative on RAT.