Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38422077›Full record

ArticlePloS one2024

Evaluation of COVID-19 antigen rapid diagnostic tests for self-testing in Lesotho and Zambia.

Moniek Bresser, Rahel Milena Erhardt, Kwame Shanaube, Musonda Simwinga, Palesa Agnes Mahlatsi, Jennifer Belus, Albertus Schaap, Alain Amstutz, Thomas Gachie, Tracy Renée Glass and 8 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Moniek BresserSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.
Rahel Milena ErhardtSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.
Kwame ShanaubeZambart, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.ORCID 0000-0001-7899-0890
Musonda SimwingaZambart, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Palesa Agnes MahlatsiSolidarMed, Partnerships for Health, Maseru, Lesotho.
Jennifer BelusUniversity of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Albertus SchaapZambart, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Alain AmstutzUniversity of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0003-1716-993X
Thomas GachieZambart, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Tracy Renée GlassSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.
Bxyn KangololoZambart, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
John 'MotaSolidarMed, Partnerships for Health, Maseru, Lesotho.
Sian FloydLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Bulemba KatendeSolidarMed, Partnerships for Health, Maseru, Lesotho.ORCID 0000-0002-4562-0612
Eveline KlinkenbergLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Helen AylesZambart, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Klaus ReitherSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.
Maria RuperezLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-8322-7881

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe use of antigen rapid tests (Ag-RDTs) for self-testing is an important element of the COVID-19 control strategy and has been widely supported. However, scale-up of self-testing for COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa is still insufficient and there is limited evidence on the acceptability of self-testing and agreement between Ag-RDT self-testing and Ag-RDT testing by professional users. A joint collaboration (Botnar Research Centre for Child Health-European & Developing countries Clinical Trials Partnership)was established between Lesotho and Zambia to address these gaps in relation to Ag-RDT self-testing and contribute to increasing its use in the region.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Firstly, 14 in-depth cognitive interviews (5 in Zambia and 9 in Lesotho) were performed to assess the participants' understanding of the instructions for use (IFU) for self-testing. In a second step, evaluation of test agreement between Ag-RDT self-testing and Ag-RDT testing by professional user using SD Biosensor STANDARD Q COVID-19 Ag-RDT was performed. In Zambia, usability and acceptability of self-testing were also assessed.

resultsCognitive interviews in Lesotho and Zambia showed overall good understanding of IFU. In Zambia, acceptability of self-testing was high, though some participants had difficulties in conducting certain steps in the IFU correctly. Agreement between Ag-RDT self-test and Ag-RDT by professional users in Lesotho (428 participants) and Zambia (1136 participants) was high, 97.3% (403/414, 95% CI: 95.3-98.7) and 99.8% (1116/1118, 95% CI: 99.4-100) respectively.

conclusionFindings from this study support the use of Ag-RDT self-testing within COVID-19 control strategies in sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to increase the testing capacity and access in hard-to reach settings.

Indexed as

COVID-19ChildCOVID-19 TestingCross-Sectional StudiesHumansLesothoRapid Diagnostic TestsSelf-TestingZambia

Identifiers

PMID38422077
PMCPMC10903820

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.