Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 22, 2025
Large-Scale SARS-CoV-2 Testing Utilizing Saliva and Transposition Sample Pooling
Published on: June 23, 2022
Sensitivity and specificity of the antigen-based anterior nasal self-testing programme for detecting SARS-CoV-2
Peter Willeit1,2, Benoît Bernar3, Christoph Zurl4,5,6
1Clinical Epidemiology Team, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Abstract:
This study evaluates the performance of the antigen-based anterior nasal screening programme implemented in all Austrian schools to detect SARS-CoV-2 infections. We combined nationwide antigen-based screening data obtained in March 2021 from 5,370 schools (Grade 1-8) with an RT-qPCR-based prospective cohort study comprising a representative sample of 244 schools. Considering a range of assumptions, only a subset of infected individuals are detected with the programme (low to moderate sensitivity) and non-infected individuals mainly tested negative (very high specificity).
