Table 3 Advantages and disadvantages of RT-PCR, LFIA, and ELISA
From: Screening and confirmation tests for SARS-CoV-2: benefits and drawbacks
Test | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
RT-PCR | Ease of use Can measure infectivity Can detect an infection at its early phase Has the highest accuracy compared to LFIA and ELISA in detecting infections | Laborious and requires sophisticated instruments Requires expertise Take few days to get results Swabbing method is Invasive Costly Ct value as a proxy for infectivity has problems such as standardised specimen and uncertainty regarding vaccination status DNA-dependent (problems can arise from different type of specimen used, degenerate nucleotides in primers, and rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2) Can give positive results even weeks after recovery Cannot distinguish reinfection and new infection |
LFIA | Ease of use Short analysis time User-friendly and does not require any expertise Allows the screening of a large number of asymptomatic carriers in a short period Relatively cheaper | Convenient for whole blood, serum, and plasma Cannot be used to detect COVID-19 infection in the early phases Can distinguish infectious and non-infectious individual but not infected and non-infected individual |
ELISA | High sensitivity for later stages High specificity due to the reaction between antigen and antibody Useful in individuals whose antibodies present later | Cannot be used to detect COVID-19 infection in the early phases |