scholarly journals Evaluation of the Practicability of Biosynex Antigen Self-Test COVID-19 AG+ for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein from Self-Collected Nasal Mid-Turbinate Secretions in the General Public in France

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2217
Author(s):  
Serge Tonen-Wolyec ◽  
Raphaël Dupont ◽  
Natalio Awaida ◽  
Salomon Batina-Agasa ◽  
Marie-Pierre Hayette ◽  
...  

Due to their ease-of-use, lateral flow assay SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests could be suitable candidates for antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic self-test (Ag-RDST). We evaluated the practicability of the Ag-RDST BIOSYNEX Antigen Self-Test COVID-19 Ag+ (Biosynex Swiss SA, Freiburg, Switzerland), using self-collected nasal secretions from the turbinate medium (NMT), in 106 prospectively included adult volunteers living in Paris, France. The majority of the participants correctly understood the instructions for use (94.4%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 88.3–97.4), showing a great ability to perform the entire self-test procedure to obtain a valid and interpretable result (100%; 95% CI: 96.5–100), and demonstrated the ability to correctly interpret test results (96.2%; 95% CI: 94.2–97.5) with a high level of general satisfaction. About one in eight participants (# 15%) needed verbal help to perform or interpret the test, and only 3.8% of test results were misinterpreted. By reference to multiplex real-time RT-PCR, the Ag-RDST showed 90.9% and 100% sensitivity and specificity, respectively, and high agreement (98.1%), reliability (0.94), and accuracy (90.9%) to detect SARS-CoV-2 antigen. Taken together, our study demonstrates the high usability and accuracy of BIOSYNEX Antigen Self-Test COVID-19 Ag+ for supervised self-collected NMT sampling in an unselected adult population living in France.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
thierry prazuck ◽  
Anne Gravier ◽  
Daniela Pires-Roteira ◽  
Aurelie Theillay ◽  
Sandra Pallay ◽  
...  

The control of the COVID-19 epidemics has been one of top global health priorities for the last eighteen months. To that end, more reliable and easy-to-use diagnostic tests are necessary. Young children are still not eligible to vaccination and it is important to find a way to easily test this key population regularly. With that in mind, we evaluated a new innovative easy two-step self-test named COVID-VIRO ALL IN developed by AAZ that uses a sampling nasal sponge instead of a classic nasal swab. Mirroring the previous study conducted on the first generation of COVID-VIRO antigenic self-test, we first performed a multicentre, prospective study on 124 adults and children, in a point-of-care setting. Sensitivity, specificity and overall acceptance of the COVID-VIRO ALL IN antigen self-test compared to RT-PCR on nasopharyngeal samples were evaluated at 93.02%, 100% and 97,5%, respectively. We then performed a multicentre, prospective, usability study to evaluate the ease of use of COVID-VIRO ALL IN in real life on 68 laypersons, all adults. Globally, 99% of them considered the instructions material good, 98% executed the procedure well, and all of them interpreted the results correctly. The usability was then specifically investigated on 40 children and teenagers participants, comparing both COVID-VIRO first generation and the new COVID-VIRO ALL IN. All of them found COVID-VIRO ALL IN much easier to use and much more comfortable. For young children, the COVID-VIRO ALL IN self-test appears to be safer (less risk of trauma compare to nasal swabs and no liquid exposure) easier to use than classic COVID self-tests and giving immediate result which is not the case for RT-PCR done on saliva samples (currently done in routine for kids in French schools). It could be an adapted tool for future mass screening campaigns in schools or at home under adult supervision for kids from the age of 3.


Author(s):  
Ni Putu Dian Permata Prasetyaningrum

Surabaya Shipping Polytechnic emphasizes on certain areas of expertise that Taruna must possess. This is the basis after graduating from shipping polytechnics, cadets must have expertise and skills. The purpose of this study was to study the effect of inquiry, discovery learning, and creativity levels on the ability to write descriptive essays on nautical and technical cadets at Surabaya Shipping Polytechnic. This type of research is research. This research uses quantitative methods using experiments. The location used in this research is Surabaya Shipping Polytechnic. The subjects in this study were the cadets of the Nautika A, Nautika B, Teknika A, and Teknika B. classes. Based on the results of the research and discussion, the following conclusions are obtained: There are those that can be solved looking for description essays in the cadets. learning discovery method. The test results show better investigation methods than the discovery of learning, There is a difference in the ability to write a description essay about cadets who have a high level of creativity with cadets who have a low level of creativity, the test results show better who have a high level of creativity, there are related with learning methods and descriptions of the ability to write essay descriptions, the test results show learning methods and creativity descriptions of the ability to write essay descriptions.


Author(s):  
Ekaterina Peredelskaya ◽  
Tatyana Safyanova ◽  
Mikhail Druchanov

Chickenpox is an urgent problem, as it is widely spread with a high level of morbidity and an increasing share in the structure of the General infectious pathology with significant economic damage. The aim of the study is to study the epidemiological and clinical features of chickenpox in adults hospitalized in Krai government-owned publicy funded health care institution «City clinical hospital No. 5, Barnaul» for the period 2008‑2018. Content analysis included statistical reporting forms No. 2 of Federal state statistical supervision «Data on infectious and parasitic diseases» in the city of Barnaul during the period 2008‑2018 of medical archival documents adult infectious Department Krai government-owned publicy funded health care institution «City clinical hospital №5, Barnaul» for the same period. Data processing was performed using calculation of intensive and extensive indicators, calculation of the arithmetic mean (X) and standard error of the average (m). Calculations were made using the STATISTICA-10 program. Consistently high rates were recorded, with an average of 64.32 ± 3.46 per 100,000 population. The percentage of hospitalized adults averaged 18.5% during the study period. Adults aged 18‑30 were more likely to be admitted to the hospital (90.3%); 41.6% were students. Adults with moderate severity were hospitalized more often (70.6%); 7 patients (1.3%) had complications: aphthous stomatitis (3 cases), pustulosis (2 cases), and pneumonia (2 cases). Patients with severe severity of the disease accounted for 2.4%, the premorbid background was burdened in 48% (HIV infection, tuberculosis). In 35% of patients with severe severity, the final diagnosis of Herpes zoster was made, all patients older than 40 years, stayed in the hospital for 20‑25 days.


2020 ◽  
Vol 154 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S142-S143
Author(s):  
S Dalal ◽  
S Patel ◽  
J M Petersen ◽  
D Jhala

Abstract Introduction/Objective SARS-CoV-2 is a pandemic that has required mobilization to meet urgent needs. In this mobilization, emergency use authorizations (EUA) have been issued by the FDA to expedite the deployment of these tests. This has led to a situation whereby sensitivity has not been rigorously studied for any of the assays with EUAs. Estimates can be extrapolated from the limited samples documented by the company in their instructions for use (IFU). Although the nationwide shortage of testing reagents prevent parallel testing of multiple platforms on all specimens, observations of repeat specimens at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) provides the first study in the literature of more complete data for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid (RT-PCR) assay on sensitivity on the Abbott (Abbott Park Ill) and Cepheid (Sunnyvale CA) assays. Methods A retrospective search was performed for all test results for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR from 3/1/2020 to 4/14/2020 at Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Medical Center, in order to evaluate the sensitivity on Abbott m2000 and Cepheid platforms. Results across multiple reference laboratories and in-house testing platforms were collated in a table with all patients clinically requiring repeat testing recorded. Results 114/863 patients had repeat testing. The tests were performed initially by outside reference laboratories (25 patients), on the Abbott m2000 (63 patients), and Cepheid Infinity (26 patients). 15/114 (13%) had discordant results on repeat testing. This included 1 test initially done by a reference laboratory. 8 days after the initial result from the reference lab, a positive for the same patient was identified on the Abbott platform. 11 initial Abbott results were discordant on further repeat testing on two platforms - Abbott (6 patients) and Cepheid (5 patients) 1-6 days later. In addition, 3 initial Cepheid were discordant on further repeat testing by the same Cepheid platform (1-16 days later). Conclusion While the instructions for use for both platforms suggest 100% sensitivity and specificity (due to the 100% positive and negative percent agreement in limited specimens), the true sensitivity is less than 100%, particularly early in the course of the infection. In our study, the positive percent agreement (surrogate for sensitivity) was 83% for initial Abbott tests, 88% for initial Cepheid tests, and 95% by Reference laboratory platform.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Jan Amos Jelinek

The Earth’s shape concept develops as consecutive cognitive problems (e.g., the location of people and trees on the spherical Earth) are gradually resolved. Establishing the order of problem solving may be important for the organisation of teaching situations. This study attempted to determine the sequence of problems to be resolved based on tasks included in the EARTH2 test. The study covered a group of 444 children between 5 and 10 years of age. It captured the order in which children solve cognitive problems on the way to constructing a science-like concept. The test results were compared with previous studies. The importance of cultural influences connected to significant differences (24%) in test results was emphasised. Attention was drawn to the problem of the consistency of the mental model approach highlighted in the literature. The analysis of the individual sets of answers provided a high level of consistency of indications referring to the same model (36%), emphasising the importance of the concept of mental models.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 633
Author(s):  
Marco Del Riccio ◽  
Sara Boccalini ◽  
Lisa Rigon ◽  
Massimiliano Alberto Biamonte ◽  
Giuseppe Albora ◽  
...  

Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 represents an effective and safe tool to protect the population against the disease; however, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy could be a major barrier to achieving herd immunity. Despite the severity of the current pandemic, the population’s intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is still not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19 among a convenience sample of the general population resident in Italy and the factors associated with hesitancy and acceptance of the vaccine in the context of the current pandemic before the rolling out of COVID-19 vaccines. An anonymous online survey was diffused among a general adult population living in Italy. Participants aged 18 or older and living in Italy were considered eligible. Incomplete questionnaires were excluded. Overall, 7605 valid questionnaires were collected. Most of the participants (81.9%) were inclined to get vaccinated; male sex (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.12–1.71), a high level of trust in institutions (OR 3.93, 95% CI 2.04–7.83), and personal beliefs about high safety of COVID-19 vaccines (OR 56.33, 95% CI 31.57–105.87) were found to be among the significant predictors of COVID-19 acceptance. These data could help design larger studies to address the problem of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the current pandemic.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 349
Author(s):  
Sien Ombelet ◽  
Alessandra Natale ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Ronat ◽  
Olivier Vandenberg ◽  
Liselotte Hardy ◽  
...  

Bacterial identification is challenging in low-resource settings (LRS). We evaluated the MicroScan identification panels (Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA) as part of Médecins Sans Frontières’ Mini-lab Project. The MicroScan Dried Overnight Positive ID Type 3 (PID3) panels for Gram-positive organisms and Dried Overnight Negative ID Type 2 (NID2) panels for Gram-negative organisms were assessed with 367 clinical isolates from LRS. Robustness was studied by inoculating Gram-negative species on the Gram-positive panel and vice versa. The ease of use of the panels and readability of the instructions for use (IFU) were evaluated. Of species represented in the MicroScan database, 94.6% (185/195) of Gram-negative and 85.9% (110/128) of Gram-positive isolates were correctly identified up to species level. Of species not represented in the database (e.g., Streptococcus suis and Bacillus spp.), 53.1% out of 49 isolates were incorrectly identified as non-related bacterial species. Testing of Gram-positive isolates on Gram-negative panels and vice versa (n = 144) resulted in incorrect identifications for 38.2% of tested isolates. The readability level of the IFU was considered too high for LRS. Inoculation of the panels was favorably evaluated, whereas the visual reading of the panels was considered error-prone. In conclusion, the accuracy of the MicroScan identification panels was excellent for Gram-negative species and good for Gram-positive species. Improvements in stability, robustness, and ease of use have been identified to assure adaptation to LRS constraints.


Information ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Alexey Semenkov ◽  
Dmitry Bragin ◽  
Yakov Usoltsev ◽  
Anton Konev ◽  
Evgeny Kostuchenko

Modern facial recognition algorithms make it possible to identify system users by their appearance with a high level of accuracy. In such cases, an image of the user’s face is converted to parameters that later are used in a recognition process. On the other hand, the obtained parameters can be used as data for pseudo-random number generators. However, the closeness of the sequence generated by such a generator to a truly random one is questionable. This paper proposes a system which is able to authenticate users by their face, and generate pseudo-random values based on the facial image that will later serve to generate an encryption key. The generator of a random value was tested with the NIST Statistical Test Suite. The subsystem of image recognition was also tested under various conditions of taking the image. The test results of the random value generator show a satisfactory level of randomness, i.e., an average of 0.47 random generation (NIST test), with 95% accuracy of the system as a whole.


2011 ◽  
Vol 261-263 ◽  
pp. 989-993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anuchit Uchaipichat ◽  
Ekachai Man Koksung

An experimental program of laboratory bearing tests was performed to characterize the bearing capacity of foundation on unsaturated granular soils. All tests were performed by pushing a circular rod on the surface of compacted sand specimens with different values of matric suction until failure. The test results show an increase in ultimate bearing capacity with increasing matric suction at low suction value but a decrease in that at high level of suction. The comparisons between the test results and simulations using the expressions proposed in this paper are presented and discussed. Good agreements are achieved for all testing values of suction.


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