FDA warns lay person against using Covid-19 rapid test kit

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FDA warns lay person against using Covid-19 rapid test kit

By THE NATION

 

 

The Thailand Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned people not to buy Covid-19 rapid test kits to perform testing at home.

 

“During the second wave of Covid-19 in Thailand, people have become more concerned about virus testing, while some are opting to buy rapid test kits from online sellers to perform the tests themselves,” said Dr Surachoke Tangwiwat, FDA deputy secretary-general.

 

“Rapid tests kits are not an accurate way of testing for Covid-19, as they test the person’s immunity level and not the virus itself. Using only a rapid test kit could therefore lead to misdiagnosis.”

 

 

Surachoke added that the change in immunity level would only be detected by a rapid test kit after a person has contracted the virus some times, therefore it should be used only by doctors and experienced health technicians who could accurately analyse the result.

 

“In some cases, test-takers found the results to be negative, but in fact they had just contracted the virus and it could spread to others if they do not isolate themselves,” he warned.

 

“According to the Ministry of Public Health announcement, Covid-19 rapid test kit is a medical equipment that must be sold only to hospitals, clinics or licensed medical professionals, and the sales must be reported to the FDA,” he said.

 

The FDA deputy secretary-general also advised people who have travelled to risky zones, or have had close contact with a confirmed patient, or have symptoms, such as over 37.5 degrees fever, loss of taste and sense of smell, coughing, sore throat or muscle ache to receive a test at the hospital within 48 hours for accurate diagnosis.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30400755

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2021-01-06

 

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[cyril sneer]

sounds like their worst nightmare, people being able to self-diagnose themselves and show the true figures

[FarFlungFalang]

All medical money roads must lead to Bangkok big farma as our usual sources have dried up,sorry for the inconvenience. 

[Virt]

It's true they are not as accurate, but if you buy a few for those measuring anti bodies and they all says you developed anti bodies it's a pretty safe method to tell if you had covid-19. 

 

Not all persons who had covid-19 develop anti bodies or measurable amounts so you might test negative even if you had covid-19. 

 

The problem with these test so far are that they don't tell you if you developed the "correct" type of anti bodies. 

 

New tests are beeing developed as we speak that will take care of that. 

 

Personally I think it's an OK supplement to get a better idea if you had covid-19. 

 

One can only speculate in why the different governments worldwide won't allow home tests. 

Even a child could use these type of test correct. 

[Petey11]

Reported that it normally takes 2 weeks for antibodies to be detectable in the blood after contracting covid. They should emphasise to the public that these home kits are for seeing if you may have had covid previously. Even if it does show you have previously had covid doesn't mean you cannot get it again and the tests are not 100% reliable.