Validity of the Rapid Nasopharyngeal Antigen Swab for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 on Cadavers

Validity of the Rapid Nasopharyngeal Antigen Swab for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 on Cadavers

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100w products Background: SARS-CoV-2 is classified as a class 3 biological agent; therefore, autopsies on positive subjects must be performed in BSL 3 sectorial rooms.However, many centers lacking such facilities perform molecular nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 on corpses before autopsy.This approach, though, is marked by prolonged reporting times and extremely high costs.

This study aims to compare the results of molecular swabs (RT-PCR) with rapid antigen swabs (RAT) in order to assess if RAT can serve as the sole test for determining corpse positivity or negativity.Methods: Sixty corpses with positive molecular nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2, performed either ante-mortem or post-mortem, were selected.Afterward, they underwent rapid antigen swabs within 0 to 11 days after the last molecular exam.

Results: Out of 60 corpses with positive molecular swabs, 52 antigen swabs were positive (86.67%), and 8 were negative (13.33%), indicating a sensitivity of 86.

66% and specificity of 100%.Conclusions: Considering the sensitivity and specificity values observed in this study, RAT could be used as cyspera cream where to buy the primary investigation on corpses, especially in centers that lack BSL 3 sectorial rooms.Molecular swabs could then serve as a secondary test for subjects negative on RAT.