What is an antigen test?
The antigen is like the "clothes" on the outside of the virus, and the nucleic acid is the gene inside the virus. Antigen detection is to start from the antibody to test the "clothes" part, so that the virus can be displayed.
Who is suitable for antigen testing?
1. People who go to primary medical and health institutions and have symptoms such as respiratory tract and fever within 5 days of onset of symptoms.
2. Isolation and observation personnel, including home isolation observation, close contact and sub-close contact, entry isolation observation, personnel in closed and controlled areas and controlled areas.
3. Community residents who need antigen self-testing.
Antigen self-test using steps
● Throat secretion collection: Insert the swab from the mouth completely into the throat, center on the throat wall and the reddened part of the upper forehead tonsil, wipe the bilateral pharyngeal tonsils and the posterior pharyngeal wall with moderate force, avoid touching the tongue, and take it out.
● Nasopharyngeal secretion collection: Gently insert a sterile swab, keep the swab near the nasal septum, and at the same time gently push the swab into the posterior nostril 1-1.5 cm, rotate at least 4 times for no less than 15 seconds, Then take it out from one nostril and insert it into the other nostril, and repeat the above operation.
Samples treated with sample extracts should be used within 2 hours of storage at room temperature and within 3 hours of storage at 2°C -8°C. The number of repeated freezing and thawing of samples should not exceed 3 times
Clinical features of new crown
important reminder
Q: Can self-test results replace nucleic acid test results?
cannot.
Nucleic acid detection is still the basis for the diagnosis of new coronavirus infection. As a supplementary method, antigen detection can be used to screen specific groups of people, which is conducive to improving the ability of "early detection".
Q: What should I do if the antigen self-test result is positive?
If the antigen test is positive, residents should immediately report to the community (village) where they live, regardless of whether they have symptoms such as respiratory tract or fever.
Q: How to dispose of the used self-test reagent?
The used sampling swabs, sampling tubes, test cards, etc. should be put into biosafety bags and treated as medical waste, and should not be discarded at will. After completing the test, wash or sanitize your hands.
