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Laboratory Evaluation Links Some False-Positive COVID-19 Antigen Test Results Observed in a Field Study to a Specific
Alyssa M Carter1, Alexander Viloria Winnett1, Anna E Romano1
1Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA.
Abstract:
During a household-transmission field study using COVID-19 antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDT), a common test strip lot was identified among 3 participants with false-positive results. In blinded laboratory evaluation, this lot exhibited a significantly higher false-positive rate than other lots. Because a positive Ag-RDT result often prompts action, reducing lot-specific false positives can maintain confidence and actionability of true-positive Ag-RDT results.

