New Research Identifies Which Point-of-Care COVID-19 Tests Meet WHO’s Target Product Profiles

Recent study shows which point-of-care (POC) COVID-19 testing options are considered “desirable” by WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) releases criteria for diagnostic tests and treatment that describes the “desirable” profiles that health products should meet. These criteria are listed in a document specific to each product called a Target Product Profile (TPP).

In late September 2020, WHO released TPPs for various types of COVID-19 tests. According to WHO, “these TPPs describe the desirable and minimally acceptable profiles for four [types of] tests.” The TPPs are intended to serve as a guide for manufacturers and clinicians.

Now, a study by researchers at NSF International and Novateur Ventures has evaluated the rapid-detection COVID-19 tests, analyzing and identifying which point-of-care COVID-19 tests meet WHO’s TPPs for COVID-19 tests. The study, COVID-19 Point-of-Care Diagnostics That Satisfy Global Target Product Profiles, was published in the January 2021 issue of Diagnostics.

Among the research, two types of COVID-19 point-of-care (POC) tests were analyzed: direct (antigen/RNA) tests to detect acute infection and indirect (antibody) tests to detect past infection. The chart below shows a snapshot of what is reported in Diagnostics.

As published in Diagnostics, short vertical lines represent the calculated clinical sensitivity (top panel) and clinical specificity (bottom panel) values for direct antigen/RNA point of care tests. Horizontal bars represent lower and upper 95% confidence intervals. Blue and red lines represent WHO TPP “acceptable” and “desirable” thresholds, respectively. Performance data for these direct antigen/RNA POC tests are based on manufacturer’s claims reported in the FDA EUA database. Performance data shown here are based on independent evaluation tests reported in the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) database. (Chart and caption information source: Diagnostics)

According to the study, several COVID-19 point-of-care (POC) tests met the WHO TPP “desirable” criteria for clinical sensitivity/specificity, limit of detection, and time to results.

Direct (Antigen/RNA) POC Tests Meeting WHO TPP

DetectaChem MobileDetect Bio BCC19 Test (RT-LAMP)
Mammoth Biosciences SARS-CoV-2 Detectr Test (RT-LAMP/CRISPR)
Quidel Sofia-2 Flu+SARS Antigen Test
Seasun Biomaterials AQ-TOP Plus COVID-19 Rapid Test (RT-LAMP)
Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology Bioeasy Diagnostic Kit COVID-19 Antigen Test

Indirect (Antibody) POC Tests Meeting WHO TPP

Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Wondfo SARS-CoV-2 Ab Test 1
Hangzhou Biotest Biotech RightSign COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test
Hangzhou AllTest Biotech AllTest COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test 1
NG Biotech NG IgG/IgM Rapid Test
Sugentech SGTi-flex COVID-19 IgG
VivaChek Biotech COVID-19 IgM/IgG Rapid Test

“A few weeks has passed since we conducted our research in December 2020, so it is likely that additional tests have undergone independent assessment and can meet the WHO criteria now,” said Robyn Meurant, Executive Director of Health Sciences at NSF International. “The most important takeaway from this study is that purchasers of point-of-care COVID tests should do their research and make sure they are selecting a test that meets the WHO TPP criteria for their specific use case.”