When you or your family are sick, you may be wondering if it’s influenza or the coronavirus.
Help is at hand, as Clicks stocks affordable, at-home antigen tests for Covid-19, available without prescription. This means that South Africans can test themselves without visiting a doctor, clinic, or testing site.
Available instore and online, the Orient Gene Biotech Rapid Covid-19 (Antigen) Self-Test retails for R69.95. It has an accuracy rate of 98.7% and uses a nasal swab to detect the presence of Covid-19 antigens in the body.
“We are pleased to offer our customers a quick and easy way to test for Covid,” says Rachel Wrigglesworth, Clicks Chief Healthcare Officer. “We believe that providing affordable access to testing is an important step in the fight against Covid-19.”
How to test for Covid-19
A sample is collected by inserting a swab into the nostril and gently wiping it in a circular motion five times. This is repeated in the other nostril, without pushing too far into the nostril. Once the sample is obtained, the swab is placed into an extraction fluid tube, and pushed and rotated against the inside at least six times.
You then leave the swab in the in the extraction tube for one minute. Withdraw the swab and firmly push the nozzle cap onto the extraction tube, before squeezing four drops of the liquid into the sample well of the test case. Don’t forget to wash your hands before and after you collect the nasal specimen.
Wait for 15 minutes to read the result – a single line is negative, while a double line indicates a positive test.
Why you should self-test
Self-testing at home is affordable, easily available and quick to administer, and can help prevent people from unknowingly spreading the virus. The tests may not detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus early in an infection – testing too soon after exposure to someone with Covid-19 could lead to a false-negative result, especially if you don’t have symptoms.
The US Food and Drug Administration advised people to perform repeat testing following a negative result on any at-home Covid-19 antigen test, to reduce the risk of missing an infection (false negative result). It’s important to remember that self-tests do not detect antibodies which indicate a previous infection, nor do they measure your level of immunity.
“We remain dedicated to ensuring our customers have easy access to quality healthcare products and services they need, when they need them,” says Wrigglesworth.
*Reliance on any information provided on this Website is solely at your own risk.
The content of this Website is provided as a service to you for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need medical advice, you should seek the advice of your healthcare professional.