RAPTOR COVID-19: rapid test diagnostic evaluation in the community
RAPTOR-C19 is assessing the accuracy of different rapid tests for COVID-19 for patients in the community. The study aims to determine whether rapid tests, which give results within minutes/hours, are as accurate as standard laboratory tests.
Companies check their tests are safe, and that they work in experimental conditions. However, any new test needs to be evaluated in real-life settings. We will evaluate new rapid tests against the 'standard' tests for COVID-19.
In our study, the standard tests are those recommended by Public Health England, carried out in laboratories across the country, and typically take a few days to produce results. We will know how accurate the rapid tests are for people with COVID-19 in the community once we have collected data for many different people who have received both rapid and standard tests.
Adults and children going to their GP with symptoms that might be caused by COVID-19 (past or present) will be invited to take the part in the study. Everyone will get at least one new rapid test for COVID-19 as well the standard laboratory test and the results will be compared. We will also gather information from the medical record. All this information will be combined to determine how accurate the rapid tests are.
The ability to get accurate rapid COVID-19 test results could transform how we tackle the pandemic.
The research will take place in GP surgeries or COVID-19 testing sites. Accurate rapid tests mean quicker decisions about patient care and self-isolation and so are key to our efforts to control COVID-19.