Evaluation of SARS-CoV2 antibody Rapid Diagnostic Test kits (RDTs) and Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (Rt-PCR) for COVID-19 Diagnosis in Kaduna, Nigeria

The emergence of the RNA virus SARS-CoV2, the causative agent of COVID-19 and its declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic has disrupted the delicate balance in health indices globally. Its attendant immune dysregulation and pathobiology is still evolving. Currently, real time PCR is the gold standard diagnostic test, however there are several invalidated antibody-based tests available for possible community screening. With ongoing community transmission in Nigeria, neither the true burden of COVID-19 nor the performance of these kits is presently known. This study therefore, compared the performance of the SARS CoV2 antibody test and the real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (Rt-PCR) in the diagnosis of COVID-19. For the purpose of this evaluation, we used the diagnostic test kit by Innovita® Biological Technology CO., LTD China, a total of 521 venous blood samples were collected from consenting patients for the SARS COVID-19 rapid diagnostic kit and Oral and Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected and analyzed using the real time Polymerase chain reaction technique for nucleic acid detection and quantification.