Potential applications of the rapid COVID-19 antibody test kit screening in comparison to the real-time RT-PCR in patients and personnel at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the real clinical-setting feasibility of the rapid antibody test for COVID-19 screening, compared to RT-PCR, for emergency obstetric and gynecological procedures, and medical personnel in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; a cross-sectional survey was conducted with 230 patients and 60 medical staff, during the four-month national COVID-19 outbreak period (Aug – Sep 2020, and Dec 2020 - Jan 2021). All participants underwent rapid antibody tests and RT-PCR (at admission for patients).

Results

A total of 270 participants completed the study. Fever and URI symptoms were present in 6/210 patients (2.8%), while one patient (0.5%) had a history of traveling to a high-risk area. However, only two (1%) asymptomatic patients had positive IgM results. Concerning the medical personnel, 10% fell into the ‘patient under investigation (PUI)’ category. 4/60 (6.7%) IgM positive was observed in the staff cohort, in which 3/4 came from non-PUI participants. Neither participant had RT-PCR positive, demonstrating a 1.9% total false positive rate. A rapid point-of-care antibody test can be used to screen either a pregnant coming for delivery, a patient who requires urgent/emergency operative procedures, or medical personnel, at least in the defined lower-prevalence COVID-19 situation.