Self-testing with antigen tests as a method for reduction SARS-CoV-2

• Published in: The American journal of emergency medicine Vol. 53; pp. 274 - 275
• Main Authors: Peacock, Frank W., Dzieciatkowski, Tomasz, Chirico, Francesco, Szarpak, Lukasz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2022; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Antigens; Autoantigens; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - diagnosis; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 Testing - instrumentation; COVID-19 Testing - standards; COVID-19 Testing - statistics & numerical data; Emergency; Emergency medical care; Emergency medical services; Health services; Humans; Immunoassay - instrumentation; Immunoassay - standards; Immunoassay - statistics & numerical data; Infections; Mass Screening - methods; Mass Screening - standards; Mass Screening - statistics & numerical data; Mortality; Pandemics; Patients; Self-Testing; Sensitivity and Specificity; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
• ISSN: 0735-6757; 1532-8171; 1532-8171
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.05.010

In connection with the above, screening of emergency medicine stuff with minimal or no symptoms is approach which will be critical for protecting patients and all medical staff. An example of the use of COVID-19 antigen tests at the prehospital care stage can be Emergency Medical Services in Warsaw (Poland), where every patient suspected of COVID-19 or having contact with the patient is subject to quick diagnosis using the test, thanks to which paramedics know whether it should be transported to a hospital dedicated to COVID-19 patients or a normal hospital [7]. In summary, screening of emergency medicine stuff and EMS patients with minimal or no symptoms is an approach which will be critical for protecting patients and all medical staff.