OraSure InteliSwab® Rapid Antigen Test performance with the SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in the human population and the resulting COVID-19 pandemic has led to the development of various diagnostic tests. The OraSure InteliSwab COVID-19 Rapid Test is a recently developed and FDA emergency use authorized rapid antigen-detecting test that functions as a lateral flow device targeting the nucleocapsid protein. Due to SARS-CoV-2 evolution, there is a need to evaluate the sensitivity of rapid antigen-detecting tests for new variants, especially variants of concern like Omicron. In this study, the sensitivity of the OraSure InteliSwab Test was investigated using cultured strains of the known variants of concern (VOCs, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron) and the ancestral lineage (lineage A). Based on dilution series in cell culture medium, an approximate limit of detection for each variant was determined. The OraSure InteliSwab Test showed an overall comparable performance using recombinant nucleocapsid protein and different cultured variants with recorded limits of detection ranging between 3.77 * 105 and 9.13 * 105 RNA copies/mL. Finally, the sensitivity was evaluated using oropharyngeal swabs from Syrian golden hamsters inoculated with the 6 VOCs. Ultimately, the OraSure InteliSwab COVID-19 Rapid Test showed no decrease in sensitivity between the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain and any VOCs including Omicron.