COVID-19 Diagnostic Self-testing Using Virtual Point-of-care

Overview

The goal of the research is to assess candidate COVID-19 rapid diagnostic tests (e.g. immunodiagnostic antibody tests, like Cellex qSARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM Rapid Test, or antigen tests, like Turklab Test-It COVID-19 Home Test, AllBio Science Inc. and Artron Laboratories Inc. rapid COVID-19 antigen tests in order to judge their clinical accuracy compared to Centers for Disease Control (CDC)-recommended molecular genetic testing and clinical diagnosis. Second, it is our goal to determine if self-testing assisted by COVIDscanDX mobile device camera acquisition software platform and telemedicine clinical/technical support (virtual point-of-care) improves the ease of use and immediate interpretation of the tests, thus making self-testing comparable in accuracy and safety to testing in a clinical setting. Third, we are testing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 after diagnosis with COVID-19 or following vaccination to measure the onset and time course of detectable antibodies from finger-stick blood drops and rapid antibody lateral flow tests. The overall purpose of the study is to dramatically increase the capacity of COVID-19 testing by establishing the safety, ease-of-use and validity of self-testing assisted by mobile device imaging and telemedicine remote support and provide evidence of antibody time-course response to vaccination.

Two Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs will be collected from opposite nares by health care professionals at the POC from minimally 500 subjects enrolled at a minimum of 2 point- of-care (POC) clinical sites. One swab will be tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 responsible for COVID -19 using antigen-based tests. A second swab will be placed in transport media and transferred to a laboratory for testing using a high sensitivity EUA real-time (RT) PCR assay as the comparator method and the Ct values used to determine positive or negative. The order of sample collection will be randomized. Serial testing for home use of the Test-It (Turklab) COVID-19 Rapid Antigen test will be tested in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. Positive tests will be tested for SARS-CoV-2 variant using Whole Genome Sequencing Method by Amplicon-Based NGS (Quest Diagnostics). Two to 4 health care professional operators per site, with a range of education and training, at a point of care setting will perform a COVID-19 Rapid test assay utilizing the Instructions for Use and/or Quick Reference Instruction. Sample Population: Males and females, age 2 and older, with or without symptoms consistent with SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19). Outcome measures: 1) Sensitivity and specificity will be calculated for comparison of results between the Rapid test and the high sensitivity EUA real-time (RT) PCR assay comparator. 2) Evidence that a Health Care Professional (HCP) at Point of Care (POC) can safely and effectively utilize the Rapid test and the COVIDscanDX reader after reading the Instructions For Use (IFU) and/or brief instruction video. Antibody testing will be performed after PCR/antigen testing or after vaccination with and FDA EUA allowed SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. A finger-stick blood drop, nasopharyngeal swab or saliva sample in buffer is applied to a lateral flow test to measure either SARS-CoV-2 antigen or IgM and IgG antibodies either once or up to five times separated by a week for 35 days after vaccination. Follow-up tests may be performed to measure the longevity of the antibody response over time up to a year.