COVID-19 antigen self-test kits available in Guiyang

COVID-19 antigen self-testing kits [Photo/Guiyang news network]

Pharmacies in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, are now selling COVID-19 antigen self-testing kits.

Local residents must bring their ID cards and register when purchasing the kits. 

COVID-19 antigen self-testing is a supplementary means to improve early detection and can be used among certain groups of people. However, antigen test results cannot replace nucleic acid test results.

A demonstration of how to carry out a COVID-19 antigen self-test [Photo/Guiyang news network]

There are three groups of people who can use the antigen test kits: those who visit local medical institutions within 5 days of experiencing respiratory symptoms or fever, those who are undergoing quarantine, and community residents who want to take test themselves.

Those who receive positive antigen test results, regardless of whether they have respiratory symptoms, fever or other symptoms, should immediately report to the communities (villages and towns) where they reside, take a nucleic acid test at appropriate medical institutions, and submit to further epidemic prevention and control measures.

To ensure the quality and safety of medical devices for epidemic prevention and control, market supervision and management departments at all levels in Guiyang have continued to strengthen regulations on the production and sale of the kits.