EU steps up efforts to roll out antigen testing across Europe

The European Commission has adopted a recommendation on the use of rapid antigen tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19 (18 November). The recommendation provides guidance on how to select rapid antigen tests; when their use is most appropriate, particularly when wider and swifter testing is warranted; and, advice that testing should be conducted by trained operators.

Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said: “Testing tells us what the extent of the spread is, where it is, and how it develops. It is a decisive tool to slow down the spread of COVID-19. To increase EU co-ordination on testing methods, we are today providing guidance to member states on the use of rapid antigen test to better manage COVID-19 outbreaks.”

Antigen tests are cheaper, more scalable and much faster at delivering a result, they are however less accurate than PCR tests. Some think that antigen tests are, nevertheless, better at spotting those more likely to spread the disease and their speed may make them more effective. 

To slow down the spread of coronavirus, we need to scale up testing.

Today, we provide guidance to EU governments on the use of rapid antigen tests, to boost their testing capacity, and on mutual recognition of tests' results in the EU. https://t.co/xvUnNf9PBl

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 18, 2020

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The Commission will work with member states towards creating a framework for evaluation, approval and mutual recognition of rapid tests, as well as for mutual recognition of test results, as a matter of urgency.  The WHO recommend tests with > 80% sensitivity and > 97% specificity. 

The Commission will monitor the market and availability of new rapid antigen tests, taking into consideration their clinical performance. The Commission will launch initiatives for the procurement of tests in order to ensure equitable access to rapid antigen tests as well as their swift deployment across the EU. 

The Commission has also signed an agreement with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies  (IFRC) contributing €35.5 million, financed by the Emergency Support Instrument (ESI), to scale up COVID-19 testing capacity in the EU. The funding will be used to support the training of staff for sampling collection and analysis and performance of tests, especially via mobile equipment.

The Commission is hoping that agreed testing regimes could contribute to the free movement of people and the smooth functioning of the internal market in times of limited testing capacities, they could be used at border points such as airports, to give a rapid test result.

Scientific and technical developments continue to evolve, offering new insights on the characteristics of the virus and the possibilities for using different methodologies and approaches for COVID-19 diagnosis. The Commission will update its advice as further information becomes available. 

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