COVID-19 antigen rapid self-tests for use at home have been approved by regulatory agencies in many countries, including the United States and European Union. These tests allow individuals to collect their own nasal swab samples and obtain results within 15 to 30 minutes, without the need to visit a healthcare provider or laboratory.
However, it's important to note that these self-tests have limitations and may not be as accurate as tests performed by healthcare professionals in a clinical setting. Individuals must carefully follow the instructions provided with the test to ensure that the sample is collected correctly and the test is performed properly.
Furthermore, the accuracy of these tests may be affected by several factors, such as the quality of the sample collected, the timing of the test in relation to the onset of symptoms or exposure to the virus, and the sensitivity and specificity of the test used.
In general, self-tests may be useful for screening large numbers of people quickly and identifying potential cases of COVID-19 in individuals who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. However, if an individual has symptoms or has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, they should seek confirmatory testing from a healthcare provider.
How Accurate is a Covid-19 Antigen Test 