Flower 2020 [E].
Study characteristics | |||
Patient Sampling | |||
Patient characteristics and setting | |||
Index tests | Test name: Phase I:
(A) Wondfo SARS‐CoV‐2 Antibody test (lateral flow method);
(B) Menarini Zheijang Orient Gene (lateral flow);
(C) Fortress Diagnostics COVID‐19 TOTAL Ab Device;
(D) Biopanda COVID‐19 Rapid Antibody test;
(E) Biosure COVID‐1 Antibody Self‐Test. Manufacturer: (A) Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech (Guangzhou, China); (B) Menarini Zhejiang Orient Gene Biotech Co Ltd; (C) Fortress Diagnostics; (D) Biopanda; (E) Biosure (Mologic). Antibody: (A) IgG/M combined; (B) IgG & M; (C) IgG & M; (D) IgG & M; (E) IgG only. Antigen target: (A) S; (B) S1, S2 and N; (C) S; D) S and N; (E) N. Evaluation setting: POCT performed as POCT and in lab for comparison Test method: Lateral flow immunoassay Timing of samples: After 21 days of symptom onset; median (q1, q3) duration = 44 (35‐53) days; range 21–100 days Samples used: LFIA self‐tests with finger‐prick capillary blood; provided on the same day venous whole blood and serum samples for laboratory analysis Test operator: Self‐test (participant interpretation) and observed by a member of the team (trained interpreter observation), finger prick participant self‐read and finger prick trained observer‐read Lab test on serum and whole blood samples: Initially, scoring was performed independently by two technicians, but this practice ceased after inter‐rater scoring was found to be almost perfect by 7‐point categorical score (Kappa = 0.81) Definition of test positivity: By the presence of IgG band (if two separate lines are there for IgG and IgM separately, n=3 kits OR if only one line to detect IgG only, n=1 kit) or presence of combined IgG + IgM band (n=1 kit). Manufacturer instructions were followed. Intensity of the result band(s) from 0 (negative) to 6 according to a standardised scoring system on a visual guide. Invalid tests were repeated. A photograph of the completed test was emailed to the study team. For consistency, in the three kits which had separate IgM and IgG bands ([B], [C], [D]), only IgG was counted as a positive result (i.e. ‘MG’ or ‘G’ but not ‘M’, distinct from manufacturer guidance). [E] Commercial Biosure kit comes in box with device holder and reading card. Clinic self‐tests in this study were performed with the device alone. Blinding reported: Yes for lab analyses, no for self‐test Threshold predefined: Yes |
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Target condition and reference standard(s) | See main entry for this study for characteristics and QUADAS‐2 assessment | ||
Flow and timing | See main entry for this study for characteristics and QUADAS‐2 assessment | ||
Comparative | |||
Notes | |||
Methodological quality | |||
Item | Authors' judgement | Risk of bias | Applicability concerns |
DOMAIN 1: Patient Selection | |||
Was a consecutive or random sample of patients enrolled? | Unclear | ||
Was a case‐control design avoided? | No | ||
Did the study avoid inappropriate exclusions? | Unclear | ||
Did the study avoid inappropriate inclusions? | Unclear | ||
Could the selection of patients have introduced bias? | High risk | ||
Are there concerns that the included patients and setting do not match the review question? | High | ||
DOMAIN 2: Index Test (All tests) | |||
DOMAIN 2: Index Test (Antibody tests) | |||
DOMAIN 3: Reference Standard | |||
Is the reference standards likely to correctly classify the target condition? | Yes | ||
Were the reference standard results interpreted without knowledge of the results of the index tests? | Yes | ||
The reference standard does not incorporate the index test | Yes | ||
Could the reference standard, its conduct, or its interpretation have introduced bias? | Low risk | ||
Are there concerns that the target condition as defined by the reference standard does not match the question? | High | ||
DOMAIN 4: Flow and Timing | |||
Was there an appropriate interval between index test and reference standard? | Unclear | ||
Did all patients receive the same reference standard? | No | ||
Were all patients included in the analysis? | Yes | ||
Did all participants receive a reference standard? | No | ||
Were results presented per patient? | Unclear | ||
Could the patient flow have introduced bias? | High risk |