Pre-Operative SARS CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test and Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction: A conundrum in...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• The oro-nasal cavity's proximity to the eye increases SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk during ophthalmic procedures.
• Protecting healthcare teams requires robust pre-operative screening protocols for COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand the performance of pre-operative Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) and real-time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2.
• To inform guidelines for optimal planning of ophthalmic surgeries amidst the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• A prospective descriptive study involving 204 patients undergoing elective or emergency ophthalmic surgeries.
• Pre-operative nasopharyngeal and throat swabs were tested using RAT and RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA.
• Data was compiled and statistically analyzed.

Main Results:

• Two patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by both RAT and RT-PCR.
• Ten patients tested positive by RT-PCR despite a negative RAT result from the same sample.
• The study population had a mean age of 51.44 ± 16.501 years.

Conclusions:

• Pre-operative COVID-19 testing is essential to prevent patient-to-healthcare worker transmission.
• Rapid Antigen Tests offer quick results beneficial for emergency surgeries.
• Real-time RT-PCR is recommended for elective procedures due to its superior sensitivity, minimizing risks to surgical teams.