How to self-test antigen detection?

At present, antigen detection usually refers to novel coronavirus antigen detection, and COVID-19 antigen detection kits are divided into three types, and their principles are colloidal gold method, latex method and fluorescence immunoassay. You can purchase the first two types for preparation, sample collection, testing and result interpretation.

Before novel coronavirus antigen self-test, you should make preparations, wash your hands first, understand the self-test process and precautions by reading the instructions, and check the shelf life and integrity of the reagent. In addition, it is necessary to keep the ambient temperature at 14-30℃ to avoid the influence of humidity on accuracy, and put the antigen detection card in a flat and clean place after unpacking;

Pay attention to blow your nose with toilet paper first, and then carefully unpack the nasal swab to avoid touching the swab head. Then you can tilt your head slightly, hold the tail of the cotton swab in one hand and enter the nasal cavity near one nostril. Then you can slowly walk back along the bottom of the inferior nasal meatus to 1- 1.5cm, and then rotate towards the nasal cavity for at least 4 times, paying attention to the residence time of not less than 15 seconds. Then you can repeat the same operation in the other nasal cavity with the same cotton swab.

Immediately after the sampling tube collects the sample, place the nasal swab, rotate the swab head in the preservation solution and mix it evenly 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. After the liquid is squeezed from the swab head through the outer wall of the sampling tube by hand, the swab can be discarded, and then the sampling tube is covered to drop the liquid vertically into the sample hole of the detection card. At this time, according to the reagent description, the result can be interpreted after waiting for a certain time, usually 15-30 minutes;

The test card has a quality control area (area C) and a testing area (area T). If red or purple bands are displayed at the same time, regardless of the color of T-zone, it is a positive result, suggesting that novel coronavirus infection has occurred. If only the C area is displayed and the T area remains unchanged, it is a negative result, indicating that novel coronavirus has not been infected in the body. If there is no change in area C, it is an invalid result at this time, and the test paper needs to be taken for retesting.