This article is reproduced from [Xinhuanet];
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 12th Question: What is antigen testing? What should I do if I test positive? Interpretation of the new coronavirus detection strategy
Xinhua News Agency reporters Dong Ruifeng and Xu Penghang
In order to further optimize the new coronavirus detection strategy, the comprehensive team of the joint prevention and control mechanism of the State Council recently decided to conduct nucleic acid detection On this basis, antigen detection has been added as a supplement, and the “New Coronavirus Antigen Detection Application Plan (Trial)” has been formulated and issued.
What is an antigen test? What should I do if I test positive? Can it replace nucleic acid testing? According to the plan, the reporter interviewed experts from authoritative departments to make interpretations.
What is an antigen test?
Whether the virus invades the human body, there are currently three main methods to detect: nucleic acid detection, antigen detection and antibody detection. The first two are methods of direct detection of viruses.
Compared with nucleic acid detection, antigen detection can be faster and more convenient to operate, but with lower accuracy, it is generally used in the early stage of infection. After the outbreak, many countries recognized nucleic acid testing as the “gold standard” for COVID-19 testing, and at the same time promoted antigen testing as an effective supplement.
According to the “New Coronavirus Antigen Detection Application Plan (Trial)”, the positive results of antigen can be used for early triage and rapid management of suspected populations, and the selected antigen detection reagents must be approved by the State Drug Administration.
On September 6, 2021, the new crown flu joint inspection kit was put into production and distribution in Shanghai. This is the staff in the laboratory. product verification within. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Fang Zhe
Which group is suitable for?
The above protocol specifies the applicable population for antigen testing:
First, go to primary medical and health institutions for treatment, with respiratory symptoms, fever and other symptoms within 5 days of onset of symptoms
The second is the quarantine observation personnel, including home quarantine observation, close contact and sub-close contact, entry quarantine observation, closed control area and personnel in the control area;
The third is there are Community residents who need antigen self-testing.
According to the plan, community residents who have self-test needs can purchase antigen test reagents for self-test through retail pharmacies, online sales platforms and other channels.
Can it replace nucleic acid testing?
The National Health and Health Commission specifically stated that nucleic acid testing is still the basis for the diagnosis of new coronavirus infection, and antigen testing can be used as a supplementary method to screen specific populations, which is conducive to improving “early detection” ability.
In other words, it is to promote the monitoring mode of “antigen screening and nucleic acid diagnosis”.
According to the plan, primary medical and health institutions with nucleic acid detection capabilities should prefer nucleic acid detection; those without nucleic acid detection capabilities may conduct antigen testing.
Isolated observers and community residents should carefully read the instructions and standardize operations for antigen testing. Both positive and negative antigen results in the suspected population should undergo further nucleic acid testing. A positive antigen result is not the basis for a diagnosis of 2019-nCoV infection.
On March 11, 2022, a nucleic acid detection sampling point in Dadong Street, Chuanying District, Jilin City, the staff are residents Sampling for nucleic acid testing. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Nan
What should I do if the antigen self-test is positive?
According to the plan, people with positive antigen self-test, regardless of whether they have respiratory symptoms, fever, etc., should immediately report to the community (village) where they live, and the community (village) should contact the emergency center according to the new crown epidemic. Guidelines for the transfer of personnel related to the pneumonia epidemic, transferring residents to medical institutions with fever clinics for nucleic acid testing.
At the same time, the sampling swabs, sampling tubes, test cards, etc. used by positive persons are put into sealed bags and transported to medical institutions for disposal as medical waste.
People who have negative antigen self-tests but have symptoms, according to the plan, are advised to go to a medical institution with a fever clinic for nucleic acid testing as soon as possible; Antigen self-tests were performed once a day for 5 consecutive days.