COVID-19 antigen rapid test (ART) kits will likely be approved for sale to the public for self-testing by Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul tomorrow, Thai Rath newspaper said this afternoon (July 11).
This step has already been approved by the Medical Devices Control Division of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the price to be 300-400 baht a set.
The antigen rapid test kit requires the collection of samples from the nose and saliva and is easy to use and yields quick results.
Allowing the public self-test for coronavirus will reduce the congestion at hospitals with many currently refusing to administer a test.
Sources at the Public Health Ministry said that initial go-ahead has already been given for all hospitals, both public and private, primary health care units and Bangkok Public Health Service Centre to use antigen rapid test kit on patients who fall in the category of Patient Under Investigation – that is those with symptoms and at risk of having contracted this infection – free of charge.
This is to reduce the bottlenecks in the waiting for the RT-PCR (Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) test.
If Anutin gives his approval then these kits will be on sale at clinics and pharmacies for the public to buy and self-test on their own.
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Top: A hand holding a Covid-19 antigen rapid test device on a blue background. Photo: Marco Verch. professional photographer (CC BY 2.0)
Home Page: A file photo of a Covid-19 self-test kit. Photo: AFP/Fred Tanneau and published by Channel NewsAsia
