The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published its advice to the Minister for Health on the use of multiplex antigen near- patient tests to detect respiratory tract infections, such as COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, in residential and primary care settings.

An Overview of multiplex antigen near-patient tests for acute respiratory infections was conducted by HIQA following a request by the Department of Health. Multiplex antigen near-patient tests are performed by a healthcare worker while close to a patient, and can test for more than one respiratory virus at a time. HIQA reviewed the national and international evidence for the potential use of multiplex antigen near-patient tests delivered by a healthcare worker in residential and primary care settings.

HIQA’s review identified one research study and only two international recommendations on the use of multiplex antigen near-patient tests in these settings. As such, the limited evidence suggests that while multiplex antigen tests are quick, cheap and easy to perform, the advantages, disadvantages, feasibility and acceptability of their use in residential and primary care settings remain unknown.

HIQA’s Deputy Director of Health Technology Assessment, Michelle O’Neill, said: “Multiplex antigen near-patient testing is still a relatively new technology and so the evidence on any benefits of its use are limited. While these tests are cheap and provide results quickly, their effectiveness at accurately detecting infection is unclear.

“There is a real need for studies in primary and residential care settings to be carried out to assess the diagnostic performance and clinical utility of multiplex antigen

near-patient tests before decisions on their use in these care settings can be made.”

The full report can be found at www.hiqa.ie.

ENDS

Further information:

Marty Whelan, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, HIQA, 085 805 5202, mwhelan@hiqa.ie

Notes to Editor:

 

• Following a request from the Department of Health, HIQA conducted an overview of the evidence on the potential use of multiplex antigen near- patient tests to detect SARS-CoV-2 and one or both of influenza and RSV in residential and primary care settings.
• Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are amongst the most common illnesses among humans. Some of the most common RTIs, which account for a large proportion of outbreaks annually, are caused by viruses including SARS-CoV- 2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
• There has been a rise in the development and commercialisation of multiplex antigen tests since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• HIQA identified and reviewed two international recommendations. The Australian Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network Australia published a recommendation which did not support the use of multiplex antigen near-patient tests. A 2023 evaluation report, published by the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) in France, found no evidence of clear medical benefit to using multiplex antigen near-patient tests in primary care settings.