China has granted approval to ten COVID-19 antigen test kits made by local companies to be used for self-testing as a way to beef up early detection capabilities to cope with the more evasive and transmissible Omicron variant.
The COVID-19 antigen test is a supplementary diagnostic method to the mainstream nucleic acid testing to improve early detection capability, according to a notice published on the National Health Commission's website.
The antigen test kits can be used by people who have had fever or respiratory symptoms within five days, by people who are under quarantine and other residents who simply want to take a test, the notice said.
People who test positive with COVID-19 antigen kits should immediately contact local authorities regardless of whether or not they show symptoms, it said.
A nucleic acid test result is still needed to confirm novel coronavirus infection. People who test positive with an antigen test but negative with a nucleic acid test should undergo quarantine, close observation and repeated nucleic acid testing, the notice added.
