Compared with antibody detection, antigen detection can detect the virus in the incubation period, acute phase or early stage of the disease.
It is especially suitable for scenarios where nucleic acid detection equipment and professionals are lacking to support the pace and scale of infected population.
We test from Saliva, Sputum or Stool.
No NP/OP swabs
Saliva, Sputum and/or Stool has the highest viral load compared to swabbing.
We do on the spot results in 15 minutes.
No labs required.
Which means this test can be self administered in test facility without storing and sending the samples to the labs.
Speciality/Tests | Traditional Antigen Test Kit | ![]() S1 Rapid Antigen Test |
---|---|---|
Sensitivity | Depends on the quality of the antibody (50%-85%) | High ~95%+ for Sputum and Stool 90%+ for Saliva |
Specificity | Severe cross-reaction (80%-95%) | Very High, No cross reaction ~100% |
SARS-CoV-2 Mutant Strain |
Does not work and is not effective in identifying strains | Valid identification, has higher sensitivity to evolutionary strains |
Product Flexibility | No flexibility | Genetically engineered design, continuous optimisation |
Product Extensibility | Cross with MERS and other viruses, cannot be distinguished | Combined with MERS, Influenza A/B Virus for detection as multiple virus detection kit |
The Detection method is an innovative detection method that uses Colloidal Gold as a conjugate.
Viral antigen detection is a candidate strategy to achieve early diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nucleocapsid protein (NP) is one of the predominantly expressed structural proteins and has been confirmed as an ideal target for early diagnostic detection of SARS-CoV-2
The N gene is more conserved and stable, with 90% amino acid homology and fewer mutations over time. N proteins of many coronaviruses are highly immunogenic and are expressed abundantly during infection
This is one of the most powerful method that is widely used today in clinical testing.
Regarding high sensitivity: Our antigen detection method uses the Nucleocapsid protein as target to capture the new coronavirus, which is extremely sensitive.
Regarding 100% specificity: Our antigen detection method has very high specificity, no cross-reactivity, and can identify all mutant strains. And the more infectious the mutant strain, the better our sensitivity.
Advantages:
SensingSelf ANTIGEN test is unique in 3 ways:
Comparative Matrix | ![]() BinaxNOW Antigen Test |
![]() S1 and S4 Rapid Antigen Test |
---|---|---|
SARS Vs SARS-CoV-2 | No Differentiation between SARS and SARS-CoV-2 | Accurate Differentiation between SARS and SARS-CoV-2 |
Detection of mutations | Lack of detection for different strains of virus like D614G | Technology is mutation based / strains agnostics |
Sensitivity | 97.1% | 95% |
Specificity | 98.5% | 100% |
False Positive | Yes | Zero |
Specimen | NP Swabs based Samples | No Swabbing Only sample needed is Saliva/Sputum/Stool |
Sample Collection | Difficult and prone to errors | Easy, Error Free |
Product Flexibility | Uses traditional double antibody sandwich method hence performance depends on the quality of the antibody used. | Genetically engineered design, continuous optimization |
Product Extensibility | Cross with MERS and other viruses, cannot be distinguished | Combined with MERS, Influenza A/B Virus for detection as multiple virus detection kit |
Detection window | 1-7 days only | 1 - 15 days in Saliva & Sputum 1 - 30 days in Stool |
Most of the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 are very similar to symptoms of MERS or FluA or FluB like fever, fatigue, dry cough, nasal congestion, runny nose and sore throat. In such cases, it becomes a very critical to diagnose the condition of patient and really find out whether it is due to SARS-CoV-2 or MERS/FluA/FluB. If the person feels they have FluA/FluB but actually if they have SARS-CoV-2 then its very dangerous as SARS-CoV-2 is much more contagious than FluA/FluB.
By doing a simple multiplex test, health workers or patient can immediately find out if they are infected with MERS/FluA/FluB or SARS-CoV-2.
The COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test Kit seeks to detect directly the virus rather than the antibodies produced by the body. It finds specific proteins that are present only in the virus. Once the infection has gone, the antigen disappears.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has several known antigens, which are the visible protrusions on its surface. Our antigen test captures the S protein of the new coronavirus, which is extremely sensitive.
The RT-PCR test, though it detects the antigens, takes a long time to complete the whole process. Its mechanism to detect the virus is also different. Unlike our rapid antigen test, PCR method looks for the genetic material from the virus. It also requires a complex set-up of machines, which eventually becomes expensive and time-consuming.
In contrast, COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test Kit can take just 15 minutes to produce as accurate results with a slightly different approach. Our antigen test kit uses ACE2 latex method to detect a specific protein on the virus, thus leading to early detection of the disease.
As the antigen test can detect the virus at early stage of the disease, this can greatly address the issue of further and long-lasting damage caused to one’s health due to SARS-COV-2. If a person knows at the early onset of the infection that they are infected, the disease can caught and treated easily avoiding further risks to one’s health.
One can also contribute in controlling the community spread. You could be infected with SARS-COV-2 virus and you may not be aware of it as you have no symptoms. However, this can be risky for the community you live in. Thus, by becoming aware, you can avoid any kind of community transmission.
There are many reasons why SensingSelf Saliva/Sputum/Stool antigen test is better than NP Swab based traditional antigen test:
An antibody test detects the antibodies produced by the body when any foreign substance enters it and stimulates a response from the immune system. However, an antigen test directly detects the foreign substance by identifying a molecule on its surface.
An antibody test looks for the traces of the body's response to the virus. If a person is infected with SARS-COV-2, two specific antibodies can be surely found:
An antigen test reveals if a person is currently infected with a pathogen such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Once the infection has gone, the antigen disappears. Unlike the antibody test, antigen tests detect proteins or glycans, such as the spike proteins found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2.
The novel coronavirus invades human cells by specifically binding of its spike glycoprotein (ligand) to ACE2 (receptor) on human cellular membrane with a high affinity (KD measured as 15 nM for the binding of the S protein to the ACE2 receptor), which is 10-20 times stronger than SARS-CoV. Accordingly, we substituted ACE2 receptor for antibody to establish a novel ligand-receptor chromatography test kit for rapid novel coronavirus detection.