Will the rapid test detect mutated coronavirus?

5.2.2021 Ing. Marek Hadač

As customers are contacting us about new mutations of SARS-CoV-2 virus with questions about the ability of antigen tests to detect these viruses, we decided to inform you about how these tests react to new mutations of this virus.

SARS-CoV-2 mutates continuously - hundreds or even thousands of mutations have already been observed. Recent mutations in South Africa or the UK affect the Spike protein (S-protein), which plays a crucial role in penetrating the host cell and thus initiating infection. This mutation therefore allows the virus to spread more easily and becomes more infectious. Rapid tests detect the nucleocapsid protein antigen (N-protein), which is not affected by recent mutations.

We would like to inform you that mutations of the coronavirus have no influence on the detection quality of the antigen tests we offer.