Basic principles. COVID-19 antigen self-test is suitable for isolating observers and community residents. Among them, people who live in isolation, close contact and sub-close contact, enter quarantine observation, and close control areas and control areas shall conduct antigen self-test under the organization and management of relevant administrative departments.
Self-test instructions.
Antigen testing is generally used for sample testing in acute infection period, that is, within 7 days after symptoms appear in suspected population. The positive and negative results of suspicious people should be further tested for nucleic acid. The positive result can be used for early triage and rapid management of suspected population, but it cannot be used as a basis for diagnosing COVID-19 infection. The selected antigen detection reagent must be approved by National Medical Products Administration.
Second, the antigen self-test operation process
Preparation before antigen self-test.
1. Wash your hands. Wash your hands with running water or hand disinfectant.
2. Understand the detection process. Read carefully the supporting instructions of antigen self-test reagent and the precautions related to antigen self-test.
3. Reagent preparation. Check whether the antigen self-test reagent is within the warranty period, and check whether the contents such as nasal swab, sampling tube and test card are missing or damaged. If the reagent expires or the contents of the reagent are lost or damaged, the detection reagent should be replaced in time.
4. Confirm the requirements for ambient temperature and humidity. Colloidal gold test paper generally requires room temperature of 14℃-30℃ to avoid abnormal test results caused by supercooling, overheating or excessive humidity. The antigen test card is unpacked and placed in a flat and clean place.
Sample collection.
1. 14 years old or older can take nasal swab samples by themselves. The self-inspector blows his nose with toilet paper first. Carefully open the outer package of the nasal swab to avoid hand contact with the swab head. Then tilt your head slightly, stick a cotton swab on one nostril with the tail of one hand, then slowly infiltrate back to 1- 1.5cm along the bottom of the inferior nasal passage, then stick it on the nasal cavity and rotate it for at least 4 times, and then repeat the same operation on the other nasal cavity with the same cotton swab.
2. Those aged 2- 14 should be sampled by other adults. When sampling, first blow your nose with toilet paper and then tilt your head slightly. The sampler carefully unpacks the outer package of the nasal swab to avoid touching the swab head with his hand. One hand gently holds the head of the person being collected, and the other hand sticks the swab to one nostril, slowly permeates back to 65438±0cm along the bottom of the lower nasal passage, then sticks it to the nasal cavity and rotates it for at least 4 times, and then repeats the same operation on the other nasal cavity with the same swab.
Antigen test.
1. According to the reagent instructions, put the nasal swab into the sampling tube immediately after collecting the sample, rotate the swab head in the preservation solution and mix 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.
2. Squeeze the liquid from the cotton swab head through the outer wall of the sampling tube by hand, and then discard the cotton swab. After covering the sampling tube, drop the liquid vertically into the sample hole of the detection card.
3. According to the reagent instructions, wait for a certain time to explain the results.
Positive results: both "C" and "T" show red or purple bands, and the color of the bands at "T" can be dark or light, which are all positive results.
Negative result: red or purple bands are displayed at "C", but no bands are displayed at "T".
Invalid result: Red or purple stripes are not displayed at "C" regardless of whether stripes are displayed at "T". The result is invalid, so you need to take the test paper again.
Waste disposal.
1. Isolate the observer. No matter whether the test result is negative or positive, all sampling cotton swabs, sampling tubes and test cards are used. It should be packed in sealed bags, and medical wastes should be checked by management personnel or treated according to procedures.
2. Community residents. If the test result is negative, all used nasal swabs, sampling tubes, test cards, etc. Packed in sealed bags and treated as general garbage; If the test result is positive, it shall be handed over to medical institutions for medical waste treatment when transporting personnel.