Analysis of testing for COVID-19 in Parnaíba city, state of Piauí, from march to December 2020

Abstract

Background and Objectives: it is extremely important and necessary to assess epidemiological events through the analysis of measures adopted at the time of crises, especially those with a health impact as a way of improving the system for future events, with testing being a gold standard to be assessed during an epidemic. This study aimed to analyze tests for COVID-19 diagnosis, with a view to detecting possible false negative results, in Parnaíba, Piauí, from March to December 2020. Methods: a statistical analysis of the data reported and made available by the Municipal Health Department using the IBM SPSS Statistics^® 21.0 software, in which the variables type of test, date of symptom onset and date of material collection were crossed to obtain the results. Results: a total of 9,473 tests were negative, of which 11.1% were carried out using the RT-PCR methodology, 6.5% using rapid antigen tests, and 82.3% using a rapid antibody test. The analysis revealed that only 0.47% RT-PCR tests and 1.7% rapid antigen tests had been carried out within the ideal testing interval. On the other hand, the rapid antibody test had 0.14% performed outside the range. Conclusion: the most successful diagnostic test was the rapid antibody test, but it is the least specific and not suitable for determining health crisis management policies, especially for isolation measures for infected people, which suggests improvements in testing systems and development of tests with longer and more accurate testing intervals.