(ECNS) -- Antigen kits for self-testing are being successfully used in cities like Shanghai, Jilin and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, all hit by another outbreak of COVID-19, said a medical expert at Beijing First Hospital on Friday.
Wang Guiqiang, director of the infectious disease department at the hospital, said the COVID-19 antigen test is a supplementary diagnostic method to mainstream nucleic acid testing. It improves detection capabilities so that we can find infected cases earlier and then quarantine and recheck test results in a timely manner, he said.
Wang pointed out that anyone who tested positive with a self-test kit needs to isolate before rechecking his or her nucleic acid test result, in order to stop further spread of COVID-19 during this essential window period.
Chinese health authorities are also reminding people who test positive with self-test kits to report at once and conduct redetection.
The expert also said sample collections of the antigen test must be standardized. “It requires training and professional guidance,” he said.
As of Friday, China's National Medical Products Administration has approved a total of 23 COVID-19 antigen kits for self-testing.
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