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COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-
2) was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei, China. Due to the increased number of reported cases in
nearly 170 countries, the World Health Orga nization (WHO) publicly recognized this a s a pa ndemic on 11MAR20.
The President of the United States declared the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency on 13MAR20. Pa tient’s
symptoms are sim ila r to influenza with tra nsmission via respiratory droplets from coughing a nd sneezing. COVID-
19 ca n cause respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases,
infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, organ failure in several orga ns, a cute kidney
injury, heart problems, blood clots, additional viral and bacterial infections and even death. SARS-CoV-2 is
considered contagious whether COVID-19 disease is sym ptomatic or a symptomatic a nd patients should self-isolate
for 14 days. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein antigen indicates that the individual is currently
infected and capable of transmitting the virus.
The InteliSwa b™ COVID-19 Rapid Test uses a sandwich capture lateral flow immunoassay to detect SARS-CoV-2
nucleocapsid protein a ntigen. SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein antigen is ca ptured a nd visualized by colloidal gold
la beled with SARS-CoV-2 a ntibodies generating a visible line in the test zone f or a positive sample.
PRINCIPLES OF THE TEST
The InteliSwab™ COVID-19 Rapid Test is a m anually performed, visually rea d immunoassay for the qualitative
detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein a ntigen using a proprietary integrated collection swa b to directly
collect samples from the anterior nasal cavity. The InteliSwa b™ COVID-19 Rapid Test is comprised of both a single-
use test device and a vial containing a pre-measured amount of a buffered developer solution. The test consists of a
sealed pouch with two separate compartments for each component. The I nteliSwab™ COVID-19 Rapid Test utilizes
a proprietary la teral flow imm unoassay procedure.
The assay test strip, which can be viewed through the test device result window, is comprised of a series of
components: the blocker pad, the conjugate pad, the nitrocellulose membrane, a nd finally the a bsorbent pad. The
performance of the assay occurs by hydration and transport of reagents and specimen as they interact across the strip
via chromatographic la teral flow.
An anterior nasal sa mple is collected using the flat pad that is integrated into the test device, followed by swirling the
test device in the vial of developer solution. The developer solution facilitates the flow of the sample into the device
and onto the test strip. As the sample flows through the device, it rehydrates the reagents on the blocker pad, which
contains biotinylated anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The sample then re-hydrates the gold colorimetric reagent, which
contains a nti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. If the sa mple contains SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein antigen, it will
react with the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the blocker pad and conjugate pad a nd forms a sandwich complex that
migrates up the test strip. As the complex continues to migrate up the test strip it encounters the Test (T) Zone and
will react with the streptavidin immobilized on the nitrocellulose, a reddish-purple line will a ppear, qualitatively
indicating the presence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antigen in the sample. The intensity of the line color is not
directly proportional to the amount of antigen present in the sample. If the sample does not contain SARS-CoV-2
nucleocapsid protein antigen, the sandwich complex will not form and the reagents will flow past the Test (T) Zone.
Further up the test strip, the sample will encounter the Control (C) Zone. This is a built-in procedural control w hich
serves to demonstrate that the fluid migrated through the test device. For nega tive results and m ost positive results a
line will f orm a t the Control (C) Zone. In some cases when viral levels are high, the line at the Control Zone may be
very faint or may not be present.
Results are interpreted between 30 and 40 minutes after inserting the device into the Developer Vial. Do not read
negative results before 30 minutes as it may result in false negative results. Do not read any result after 40 minutes
a s it m a y result in ina ccurate results.