Lay summary
Rapid antigen tests (RATs) can detect the presence of SARS-COV-2 viral proteins and indicate current infection. COVID-19 testing and pandemic management in New Zealand has relied heavily on self-performed RATs since usage was rolled-out to the general public in February 2022.
Little is currently known about the impact of user error on the diagnostic performance and sensitivity of RATs. This research will investigate the use of RATs by the general population by: 1) conducting a literature review; 2) surveying members of the public to assess accessibility, confidence of use, and reporting; 3) surveying pharmacists involved with supervised antigen testing to identify commonly observed testing mistakes.
The findings may identify key weak points in the use of RATs, with an aim to gain insight to point-of-care testing and improve health delivery systems