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RTPCR & Rapid antigen
When a person tests negative by Rapid Antigen, most doctors say it is not reliable go for RTPCR.
The govt guidelines are that after a certain time you don't need to take retest if you don't have symptoms.
So when a positive person is retested (from what I have been seeing in my neighborhood) he is done so by Rapid Antigen.
My question is, if you don't trust them being negative 1st time by Rapid test then how can you declare them negative 2nd by relying on something that you said isn't trustworthy the firat time. 🤷
Answers (5)
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RAT has high false negative rate.This means even if you are negative does not mean you are actually negative, but if you are positive it is 100%accurate.
It is a economically sound test done to find maximum number of positive in the community, especially asymptomatic cases in short span of time.
Gold standard is RTPCR, but it takes time.
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Rapid antigen test is cost effective and will have result fast. The protocol is if rapid antigen test is negative then for confirmation RTPCR test should be done following it. But if rapid antigen test is positive, it will be considered positive and treatment will be started. So what is the benefit.???The benefit is if it comes positive then it saved money as well as time.
Why negative rapid antigen test is confirmed by doing RTPCR ?? Because the ability to exclude (specificity) of rapid antigen test is less.
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Rapid Antigen test if it comes positive then it is significant. When it is negative then it does not carry much importance. One can continue to take more stringent precautions if antigen is positive and hence not be a source of infection for near and dear ones
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RAT hav a sensitivity of 78% in first week and 51% in 2nd week.. So chances of getting false reports are there.. That is the reason we are not advised to do RAT...
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