The ICMR has approved the country’s first Covid-19 self-test kit called Coviself, produced by Mylab Discovery Solutions Ltd, Pune. It is a home-based rapid antigen testing (RAT) self-test kit for the Covid-19 test. Symptomatic people and close contacts with Covid-19 positive cases can use this kit.
Medintu Provides a Coviself test kit at 250 per kit. In the Covid-19 self-test kit, a nasal swab can be collected to determine SARS-CoV-2. It is easy, comfortable to use and gives test results within 20minutes. Doctor prescription is not necessary to use this kit. The Coviself test kit price will be Rs. 250 per test.
Here is the 10 point guide to using the kit:-
1. Wash your hands and dry them before opening the Coviself pouch
2. Download the Mylab CoviSelf app on your mobile phone and enter your details. Record the QR code on the test device/cassette to link the code with your details
3. Take pre-filled buffer from the pouch; on a flat surface, tap it vertically. By doing this, the extraction buffer settles down near the tube’s bottom.
4. Remove the cap by unscrewing it and hold it straight without spillage
5. Take out the nasal swab from the swab package and insert the swab tip inside the nostrils up to 2-4 cm or till there is some resistance; roll it five times inside each nostril to collect the cells.
6. Put the nasal swab into the pre-filled extraction tube; pinch the bottom of the tube. Spun the nasal swab ten times, immerse the specimen in the extraction buffer.
7. Break the swab at the breakpoint mark and discard the rest while mixing it in the extraction buffer. Cover the tube with its attached nozzle cap.
8. Put two drops of extracted antigen buffer mixture into the sample well of the cassette by pressing down on the tube and wait 10-15 minutes.
9. Note the test readings within 15 minutes. Positive results appear within 10-15 minutes. If the readings don’t appear in 20 minutes, then it is Covid-19 negative. Results after 20 minutes are not valid.
10. The phone will notify you when to record the test result in the kit. Take a picture of the test device and wait for the Coviself app to analyze and show your Covid-19 report.
India is reeling under the pressure of Covid-19 second wave stretching healthcare infrastructure to its extreme limits. The RT-PCR test / Molecular test takes at least 3-4 days to give test reports, thus delaying the crucial medical attention.
Covid-19 self-test kits can play a significant role in Covid-19 management in India. These can cut long queues in diagnostic laboratory centres, reduce the burden on the human resources for home sample collection and give fast results leading to quick treatment and isolation.