How to self-test COVID-19 antigen at home

How to self-test COVID-19 antigen at home? Let's take a look:

There are three main steps for self-testing COVID-19 antigen in China, namely, preparation before self-testing, sample collection and antigen detection.

1, antigen preparation before self-test.

① Wash your hands: First, wash your hands with running water or hand disinfectant.

② Understand the detection process: read carefully the supporting instructions of antigen self-test reagents and the precautions related to antigen self-test.

③ Reagent preparation: Pay attention to check whether the antigen self-test reagent is within the shelf life, and check whether items such as nose swab, sampling tube and test card are missing or damaged.

Tips: If the reagent expires or the contents of the reagent are missing or damaged, the detection reagent should be replaced in time.

(4) Confirm the requirements for ambient temperature and humidity in the test: In order to avoid an environment that is too cold, too hot or too wet, the test is generally carried out at room temperature 14℃-30℃.

2. Sample collection

①/kloc-people over 0/4 years old can take nasal swab samples by themselves.

The self-inspector needs to blow his nose with toilet paper first. Carefully unpack the outer package of the nasal swab and avoid touching the swab head with your hands. Then lean back slightly, hold the tail of a cotton swab in one hand and stick it on one nostril, slowly penetrate backward to 1- 1.5cm along the bottom of the lower nasal passage, then stick it on the nasal cavity and rotate it for at least 4 times (note: the residence time should not be less than 15s), and then repeat the same operation on the other nasal cavity with the same cotton swab.

② Self-taught students aged 2-14 need to be sampled by other adults. When sampling, you should first blow your nose with toilet paper and then tilt your head back slightly. Sampling personnel should carefully unpack the outer package of the nasal swab to avoid touching the swab head with their hands. Hold the swab head gently with one hand, and stick the swab on one nostril with the other hand, slowly return to the bottom of the inferior nasal passage and stick it on the nasal cavity for at least 4 times (note: the residence time is not less than 15 seconds), and then repeat the same operation on the other nasal cavity with the same swab.

3, antigen detection

(1) According to the reagent instructions, place the nasal swab immediately after the sampling tube collects the sample, rotate the swab head in the preservation solution for at least 30 seconds, and squeeze the swab head through the outer wall of the sampling tube for at least 5 times by hand to ensure that the sample is fully eluted in the sampling tube.

(2) After squeezing the liquid from the swab head through the outer wall of the sampling tube by hand, put the swab aside. After covering the sampling tube, drop the liquid vertically into the sample hole of the detection card.

(3) Wait for a period of time, and then interpret the results according to the reagent instructions.

Tip: All used sampling cotton swabs, sampling tubes, etc. It needs to be placed in a sealed bag and disposed of according to medical wastes or procedures.