A new 15-minute COVID-19 test has been launched in Thailand aimed at increasing the number of people being screened for the deadly virus and easing the burden on the health system.

Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok rolled out the rapid kit this week hoping it will help to quickly identify people with the illness.

 

Coronavirus cases rose sharply in Thailand in March, with panicked citizens flocking to under-pressure hospitals for coronavirus tests.

Currently doctors rely on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests from nasal and throat swabs to detect COVID-19.

The demand for the PCR test can mean kits are in short supply and results can take two to four days. 

 

Full story here https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-thailand-trials-15-minute-covid-19-test-11966591

"Patients who get positive results are sent for a follow-up PCR test, those who are negative are told to self-quarantine for 14 days.

 

In recent trials the test had a 5% margin of error, so negative patients are retested after a few days to confirm the reading."

 

This is encouraging.

It's not clear what happens here if you test positive - are you forced to take quarantine in a hospital or similar at your own expense? In many countries people are told to self isolate at home if symptoms are mild.