01

Introduction
Disclaimer
WHO Health Security Learning Platform – Training Materials

These WHO Training Materials are © World Health Organization (WHO) 2020. All rights reserved.

Your use of these materials is subject to the “

WHO Health Security Learning Platform, Training Materials – Terms of Use”, which you accepted when downloading
them and which are available on the Health Security Learning Platform at: https://extranet.who.int/hslp.
 
Should you adapt, modify, translate, or in any other way revise the contents of these materials, you shall not imply that
WHO is in any way affiliated with such modifications and shall not use the WHO name or emblem in such modified
materials.

Furthermore, please inform WHO of any modifications of these materials that you use publicly, for record-keeping
purposes and continued development, by emailing ihrhrt@who.int.

SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test Training Workshop – v1.0 | Introduction 2

SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test
workshop overview
• The SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) training consists of Training of
Trainers and User Training workshops.
• Training of Trainers
• The objective of this workshop is to instruct trainers on the theoretical and practical
components of SARS-CoV-2 Antigen RDT testing and provide them with the skills and
resources to train testers on how to safely perform SARS-CoV-2 Antigen RDT testing at clinical
facilities.
• User Training
• The objective of this workshop is to instruct users on the theoretical and practical components
of SARS-CoV-2 Antigen RDT testing. 
• The Training of Trainers and User Training conclude with a competency assessment and
the recognition of trainers and users who successfully completed training.   

SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test Training Workshop – v1.0 | Introduction 3

Learning objectives
At the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
• instruct trainers on the role of antigen testing in the COVID-19 response
• instruct trainers on the importance of ensuring quality testing and how to minimize errors
• instruct trainers on how to collect and analyse routine testing data to monitor test
performance 
• instruct trainers on how to train end-users to safely collect samples, conduct SARS-CoV-
2 Antigen RDT testing, interpret the results and understand their implications for patient
management.

SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test Training Workshop – v1.0 | Introduction 4

 Training of Trainers workshop content

o 01 − Introduction 07 − Preparation for testing

o 02 − Overview of SARS-CoV-2 testing 08 − Performing the SARS-CoV-2 Antigen RDT
o 03 − SARS-CoV-2 testing strategies 09 − Using SARS-CoV-2 RDT data
o 04 − Quality testing using RDTs 10 − Assuring quality results
o 05 − Safety for SARS-CoV-2 testing 11 − Training testers
o 06 − Sample collection

SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test Training Workshop – v1.0 | Introduction 5

1st DOH Training of Trainers for SARS-CoV-2 Rapid
Antigen Diagnostic Test Kit

o 01 − Introduction/Overview of SARS-CoV-2 testing

o 02 − Safety for SARS-CoV-2 testing
o 03 − Performance and reporting of the
o SARS-CoV-2 Antigen RDT
o 04 − Quality testing using RDTs
o 05 − Pointers for trainers

SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test Training Workshop – v1.0 | Introduction 6

How you will learn
• Lectures (on-site or online)
• Paper-based exercises
• Q&A and discussions

SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test Training Workshop – v1.0 | Introduction 7

Questions?

8
02
Overview of
SARS-CoV-2 testing
Disclaimer
WHO Health Security Learning Platform – Training Materials

These WHO Training Materials are © World Health Organization (WHO) 2020. All rights reserved.

Your use of these materials is subject to the “

WHO Health Security Learning Platform, Training Materials – Terms of Use”, which you accepted when downloading
them and which are available on the Health Security Learning Platform at: https://extranet.who.int/hslp.
 
Should you adapt, modify, translate, or in any other way revise the contents of these materials, you shall not imply that
WHO is in any way affiliated with such modifications and shall not use the WHO name or emblem in such modified
materials.

Furthermore, please inform WHO of any modifications of these materials that you use publicly, for record-keeping
purposes and continued development, by emailing ihrhrt@who.int.

SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test Training Workshop – v1.0 | Overview of SARS-CoV-2 testing 10
Learning objectives
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
• explain the role of diagnostics in the care of patients with COVID-19
• describe the different diagnostics for COVID-19 and where they may be used.

SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test Training Workshop – v1.0 | Overview of SARS-CoV-2 testing 11
Situational analysis of COVID-19

• The situational analysis can be viewed on the WHO

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard:
https://covid19.who.int.
https://doh.gov.ph/covid19tracker
• Diagnostic testing is an essential tool against
COVID-19, as there is limited availability of vaccine
and no specific treatment.
SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test Training Workshop – v1.0 | Overview of SARS-CoV-2 testing 12
Diagnostics in the COVID-19 response
Diagnostic testing is a critical component of the COVID-19 response, as it can be used to:

• confirm infection in patients who fulfil COVID-19 clinical criteria

• rapidly screen suspected cases (especially in community settings)
• screen for infection in asymptomatic contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases
• determine exposure (current and past) to the virus to understand the true extent of the
outbreak, map the pandemic across countries and monitor trends.

SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test Training Workshop – v1.0 | Overview of SARS-CoV-2 testing 13
Basic terms

Antigen Antibody

An antibody is a protein (also

Antigens are foreign molecular called immunoglobulin) made by
structures that can trigger an the body's immune system that can
immune response. recognize and target an antigen for
destruction.

SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test Training Workshop – v1.0 | Overview of SARS-CoV-2 testing 14
Types of tests used in the COVID-19 response
Type Target Use Method Location
Molecular tests Viral genetic material Detect active SARS- Amplification of small Laboratory or near
CoV-2 infection amounts of the viral patient
genome (RNA) until
reaching detectable
levels
Antigen tests Viral proteins Detect active SARS- Capture of antigens on Point of care
CoV-2 infection a test strip causing
color change (e.g.,
RDT for malaria)
Antibody tests Antibodies that Assess past infections Capture of antibodies Laboratory or Point
patients develop in on a test strip or in a of care
response to infection test well causing color
change, read manually
or using an instrument

SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test Training Workshop – v1.0 | Overview of SARS-CoV-2 testing 15
Questions?

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