Self-testing for 5 respiratory viruses in adult VACCELERATE volunteers in Germany-a pilot study on multi-pathogen rapid antigen testing to monitor community-acquired acute respiratory infections

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A90249%2F25%3A00142674" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:90249/25:00142674 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1638280/full" target="_blank" >https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1638280/full</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1638280" target="_blank" >10.3389/fpubh.2025.1638280</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Self-testing for 5 respiratory viruses in adult VACCELERATE volunteers in Germany-a pilot study on multi-pathogen rapid antigen testing to monitor community-acquired acute respiratory infections

Original language description

Background Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are the most common human infections. Diagnostic testing for respiratory pathogens is largely restricted to medical institutions. Self-testing may allow for real-time epidemiological monitoring of ARI pathogens, in particular in individuals not seeking medical attention.Methods Adults from the VACCELERATE Volunteer Registry received a test-kit for multiple respiratory antigens, a laminar flow device (LFD) detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza viruses A and B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus (ADV) from a single nasal swab. During one winter season, participants self-tested upon ARI symptoms, reported LFD result as well as symptoms, vaccination history, and any underlying conditions. Participants who remained without ARI symptoms self-tested on the last day of the study period.Results Between December 7, 2022, and June 2, 2023, 1,429 participants communicated their self-testing results. Of these 1,119 (78.3%) individuals had developed ARI symptoms and self-tested until May 31, 2023. Overall, 359 of 1,119 (32.1%) tests were positive with 17 (1.5%) co-detections, resulting in 377 detected pathogens overall. Thirteen tests (1.2%) were invalid or failed technically, and 747 (66.8%) were negative. The most frequently detected pathogen was SARS-CoV-2 (n = 178; 47.2%) followed by RSV (n = 109; 28.9%) and influenza A virus (n = 74; 19.6%). ADV was detected in 10 (2.7%) and influenza B virus in six (1.6%) samples only. Participants with detection of influenza A virus reported more often cough (91%), fever (59.7%), and myalgia (43.3%) than participants with detection of RSV or SARS-CoV-2. The remaining 310 participants (21.7%) who had not developed ARI symptoms self-tested on June 1, 2023, yielding an RSV point prevalence of 7.1%.Conclusion This study allowed real-time reporting of five endemic ARI pathogens in a citizen science project. Symptom burden was highest in influenza A. Seasonal and off-seasonal RSV detection hint toward relevant RSV circulation in adults all year round.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

30230 - Other clinical medicine subjects

Project

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Continuities

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Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH

ISSN

2296-2565

e-ISSN

2296-2565

Volume of the periodical

13

Issue of the periodical within the volume

13

Country of publishing house

CH - SWITZERLAND

Number of pages

9

Pages from-to

1-9

UT code for WoS article

001572319600001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

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