Since November 27, a self-test to detect Covid-19, flu and bronchiolitis has been on sale in pharmacies. Developed by AAZ, it aims to simplify the diagnosis of winter respiratory infections.
The “All in triplex” self-test, from the AAZ group, is now available in pharmacies. In a few seconds via a sample in each nostril, it promises to detect Covid-19, flu and bronchiolitis (respiratory syncytial virus or RSV). Accessible to all ages, “it is particularly suitable for children», Specifies Cédric Carbonneil, head of the professional acts evaluation service at the High Authority of Health (HAS). In fact, it does not require going deep into the nasal cavity. AAZ offers a sale price of 10 euros, but each pharmacy can set its price as it sees fit.
For two years, the TROD version of the triple test, completely identical to the self-test but which requires to be carried out by a healthcare professional, has been available in hospitals. This test was the subject of a HAS report published in 2023. The report highlights the interest of this test on a population scale, in particular to limit antibiotic prescriptions, emphasizing that “30 to 50% of prescriptions concern viral infections“. The HAS also specifies that this test could help reduce unnecessary emergency consultations for seasonal respiratory infections considered benign.
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High reliability confirmed by the first results
The effectiveness of the TROD test was, however, called into question in this HAS report. “The diagnostic performance of influenza was worrying. The available studies showed fairly poor sensitivity results », Indicates Cédric Carbonneil. Subsequent evaluations showed significant improvements, notably thanks to industrial advances which made it possible to increase both sensitivity (probability of testing positive when infected) and specificity (probability of testing negative when ‘we are not infected) TROD tests. In addition, the test has received the CE marking (certification indicating that a product meets European health and safety standards). For the self-test available in pharmacies since November 27, large-scale studies are planned this winter and next year. However, AAZ is already announcing satisfactory initial results.
« The test displays a general specificity of 100%, guaranteeing no false positives for the three diseases tested: Covid-19, bronchiolitis and influenza. Its sensitivity, which measures the ability to correctly detect positive cases, varies depending on the infection: 95.1% for Covid-19, 97.2% for bronchiolitis and 92.3% for influenza.» indicates Joseph Couilloc’h, president of the AAZ group. Overall, the general reliability of the test, combining sensitivity and specificity, reaches a rate of 98%, according to studies carried out by the AAZ group.
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