when should they be used?

In this regard, the editorial staff recommends

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How it works ?

The self-test is carried out using a swab that must be inserted three centimeters inside the two nostrils. After turning the cotton swab five times against their nasal walls, the patient must then dip the swab in a reagent – ​​which detects the presence of the Covid-19 virus – before depositing a few drops on the result strip. The result should appear in 15 or 20 minutes, like a pregnancy test.

If the self-test resembles a PCR test, insofar as it is a nasal test, the sample taken in the laboratory is taken from the pharynx, at the end of your nasal passage.

When to use the self-test?

The HAS recommends the use of an antigenic self-test for symptomatic patients over 15 years of age, up to 4 days after the onset of symptoms. The self-test is to be performed only when a nasopharyngeal test is difficult or impossible.

In asymptomatic people, the HAS warns about the completely autonomous aspect of the antigenic self-test and only recommends its use in two specific cases: it can be carried out on medical indication “as part of an urgent targeted large-scale screening” or in the context of use restricted to the private sphere, for example before a meeting with relatives. In this case, the test must be carried out the same day or, failing that, the day before the visit.

If you are in contact, it is recommended to carry out a laboratory test, so that social security is informed. This is to allow better tracing and monitoring of infected people.

A test to be used in addition to the others

Given the self-administered aspect of the antigen self-test, the HAS specifies that in the event of a positive result, its use must be supplemented by confirmation by a PCR test, in particular in order to detect the possible presence of variants. Indeed, the Haute Autorité de Santé specifies that the deployment of self-tests is only relevant if they meet minimum requirement criteria. “in order not to wrongly reassure people who are carriers of the virus”.

Finally, for a return from abroad, the Ministry of Solidarity and Health recalls that the use of a PCR test is mandatory. This one provides results from 2 to 4 days. The Haute Autorité de Santé reports a clinical efficacy of around 80 to 95% in asymptomatic people and 50 to 60% in asymptomatic people for self-tests. The HAS therefore recommends the use of other tests in addition to self-tests, because the clinical effectiveness of these is still the subject of numerous exhaustive studies and analyses.

In addition, the press release relating to self-tests recalls that the interpretation and proper performance of the self-test is not guaranteed in the absence of a healthcare professional.

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