Molecular and antigen tests, and sample types for diagnosis of COVID-19: a review – Supplementary Tables

Laboratory tests seeking to improve detection of COVID-19 have been widely developed by laboratories
and commercial companies. This review provides an overview of molecular and antigen tests, presents
the sensitivity and specificity for 329 assays that have received US FDA Emergency Use Authorization and
evaluates six sample collection methods – nasal, nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal swabs, saliva, blood and
stool.Molecular testing is preferred for diagnosis of COVID-19, but negative results do not always rule out
the presence of infection, especially when clinical suspicion is high. Sensitivity and specificity ranged from
88.1 to 100% and 88 to 100%, respectively. Antigen tests may be more easy to use and rapid. However,
they have reported a wide range of detection sensitivities from 16.7 to 85%, which may potentially yield
many false-negative results.