Molecular and Rapid Antigen Testing for SARS-CoV-2
throat
The participants first had throat and nasal specimens collected by an HCW using a separate Meditec specimen collection swab with a nylon-flocked tip (Meditec A/S) for each location. The nasal swab was inserted about 4 cm in both nostrils or until resistance was met and rotated 3 times (eAppendix 2 in After the specimens were collected for RT-PCR testing, the participants were randomized 1:1 to either self-collected (intervention group) or HCW-collected (control group) nasal and throat specimens for rapid antigen testing. Flocked nasal swabs from a rapid antigen test kit (Standard Q COVID-19 Ag test, SD; Biosensor Inc) were used for both nasal and throat specimen collection for rapid antigen testing in the intervention and control groups. The participants in the intervention group were provided with instructional material consisting of a handout with written and visual steps for self-swabbing (eAppendix 2 in 