ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Assessment of the results of large-scale rapid antigen diagnostic (RAD) testing for detection of SARS-CoV-2 amongst incoming passengers was carried out by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) Dental College Students at the Central Railway Station of Ahmedabad city. We wanted to determine the sensitivity and specificity of RAD testing for detection of Covid-19 amongst passengers disembarking from scheduled trains arriving at the Central Railway Terminus of Ahmedabad city. METHODS: Under the campaign "Chase the Virus" launched by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), Interns & Final Year students of AMC Dental College were trained to carry out rapid antigen testing of scheduled trains running on special routes starting from 07/09/2020 to 05/10/2020.14 dental teams were deputed at a temporary testing facility formulated for day-to-day testing at the Central Station using the standalone Standard - Q Covid-19 Ag testing kit (SD Biosensor, South Korea). RESULTS: In total, 18901 travellers were tested in a span of 26 days out of which 324 tested positive with an overall percentage positivity of 1.71%. An average number of 727 (+or- 182) tests were performed with an overall sensitivity of 66.01% and specificity of 99.71%. CONCLUSIONS: In response to the growing Covid-19 pandemic and complexity of laboratory-based molecular tests, rapid antigen detection tests have proved to be efficient in the easier and faster diagnosis of the passengers in such point of care settings.