Volta

Population health and implementation outcomes of self-testing for SARS-CoV-2 using antigen detecting diagnostics: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: COVID-19 antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) for self-testing (C19ST) have been widely implemented. However, evidence on population health and implementation outcomes remains limited. We systematically evaluated population health and implementation outcomes of C19ST to inform WHO guidelines and pandemic preparedness. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD42022299977), searching Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, MedRxiv, clinicaltrials.gov and the Cochrane Library from Dec 1, 2020, to Oct 1, 2025. We included cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, before-and-after, and randomised studies with symptomatic and asymptomatic participants using commercially available C19ST Ag-RDTs. Primary outcomes included C19ST population health (case detection, test positivity, number needed to test (NNT)) and implementation outcomes (uptake, adherence, result reporting). Meta-analyses used binomial-normal generalised linear mixed models; study …

Reference & gravity metrics

Secondary-market trade history

References (0)

Cited by (1)