BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, today announced the publication of a peer-reviewed study that shows BD's antigen test may be more selective than PCR (polymerase chain reaction) molecular tests at detecting people who are contagious and able to spread COVID-19 disease.
The study compared antigen and PCR test results to positive results using a viral cell culture test. Viral growth in the cell culture test indicates the presence of live virus in the patient sample, which may indicate the presence of infectious virus at the time the sample was taken. If no growth is present in the viral cell culture test, it is likely that there wasn't enough viable virus for the patient to be contagious at the time the sample was taken.
Out of 38 positive PCR result specimens tested, only 28 were positive using the cell culture technique.
Read more: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-clinical-data-shows-bd-antigen-test-may-be-more-selective-in-detecting-infectious-covid-19-patients-than-molecular-tests-301213568.html