How to Test and Use Self-testing COVID-19?

What are the precautions for self-testing?

　　There are three major steps in antigen self-testing.

covid_19

　　Firstly, prepare for the antigen self-test.

　   Wash your hands. Wash your hands with running water or hand sanitizer.

　　Understand the test procedure. Read the instructions for the antigen self-test reagent and the precautions associated with the antigen self-test.

Prepare the reagents. Check that the antigen self-test reagents are within their shelf life and that the contents of the nasal swabs, sampling tubes and test cards are not missing or damaged. If the reagents are out of date or the contents are missing or damaged, replace the test reagents promptly.

　　Confirm the environmental temperature and humidity requirements for the test. Colloidal gold test strips are generally required to be tested at room temperature between 14°C and 30°C to avoid abnormal test results due to excessive cold, heat or humidity. Antigen test cards should be removed from their packaging and placed in a flat, clean place.

　　Secondly, sample collection.

　　1. Those aged 14 years or older may perform their own nasal swab sampling. The self-tester should first blow the nose with toilet paper. Carefully unwrap the nasal swab, avoiding hand contact with the swab head. Then, with the head slightly tilted, enter with the end of the swab in one hand against one nostril, slowly penetrate 1-1.5 cm backwards along the base of the lower nasal passage and then rotate the swab at least 4 times against the nasal cavity (stay for at least 15 seconds), then repeat the same operation for the other nasal cavity using the same swab.

　　2. Self-examined persons aged 2-14 years should be sampled by another adult on their behalf. To take a sample, blow the nose with toilet paper and then tilt the head slightly. The person taking the sample carefully unwraps the nasal swab, avoids touching the swab head with the hand, holds the swab with one hand and enters the nostril on one side, slowly penetrates 1 cm backwards along the base of the lower nasal passage and then rotates the swab at least 4 times against the nasal cavity (with a dwell time of at least 15 seconds), then repeats the same operation for the other nasal cavity using the same swab.

　　Thirdly, antigen detection.

　　Place the nasal swab immediately after collection in the sampling tube according to the reagent instructions. The swab head should be swirled and mixed in the preserving solution for at least 30 seconds, while squeezing the swab head at least 5 times with the hand across the outer wall of the tube to ensure that the sample is fully eluted in the sampling tube.

　　Squeeze the swab head dry by hand through the outer wall of the sampling tube and discard the swab. After capping the sampling tube, drop the liquid vertically into the sample hole of the test card.

　　Wait a certain amount of time for the results to be interpreted according to the reagent instructions. Positive results: Both "C" and "T" show a red or purple band, the band at "T" can be dark or light, both are positive. Negative result: red or purple band at "C", no band at "T". Invalid result: No red or purple band at "C", regardless of whether a band is shown at "T". The result is invalid and should be retested by taking a new test strip.

　  How to dispose of the used self-test reagent?

　　Isolated observation staff: All used sampling swabs, sampling tubes and test cards, whether negative or positive, should be placed in sealed bags and disposed of by the management staff with reference to medical waste or according to procedures.

　　Community residents: If the test result is negative, all used nasal swabs, sampling tubes, test cards, etc. will be put into sealed bags and disposed of as general waste; if the test result is positive, it will be handed over to the medical institution for disposal in accordance with medical waste when the personnel are transferred.

　　6. How are self-test results disposed of?

　　 Residents who test positive for antigen, regardless of whether they have respiratory or fever symptoms, should immediately report to their community (village or town), which will contact the emergency centre to transfer the residents to a medical institution with a fever clinic for nucleic acid testing in accordance with the guidelines for the transfer of people related to the New Coronary Pneumonia outbreak.

　　If the antigen test is negative, residents who are asymptomatic can be closely observed and then undergo antigen testing or nucleic acid testing if needed. Residents who are symptomatic are advised to go to a medical institution with a fever clinic for nucleic acid testing as soon as possible; if it is not convenient to go to a medical institution, they should isolate themselves at home, avoid going out and take an antigen self-test once a day for 5 consecutive days.

　　7. What is the use of the test results?

　　Antigen testing can be used as a complementary tool for screening specific populations to improve "early detection". It is not yet clear whether the results of the new crown antigen self-test can be used as proof of travel.