During the COVID pandemic in recent years, various testing tools were introduced to determine the infection as soon as possible, among which were the POC COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits. A POC(point-of-care) COVID-19 rapid antigen test is a diagnostic test, operated at a testing premise, that can detect the presence of the virus that causes COVID-19(SARS-Cov-2) in an individual’s nasal or throat swab sample.
Currently, numerous POC COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits are available in the market. Still, you should be careful while purchasing them. These test kits are freely accessible but you should choose only those which are authorized by regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) and European Medicines Agency(EMA).
A few of the authorized POC antigen test kits are the Salocor POC COVID-19 Antigen Test Kit, Abbott ID NOW COVID-19, Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag 2 Card, BD Veritor System for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2, etc.
Although the POC COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits are not permitted to be sold to individuals for self-testing at home, you can get one if you agree to carry out the test following the directions of a medical practitioner or pharmacist.
Anyhow, the POC COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits are designed to be conducted at the point of care, meaning they can be used in various locations, close to the mass public, such as hospitals, schools, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, remote health centers, or even at home(under supervision).
In this article, we shall be covering a few types of testing kits, their availability, as well as their benefits.
POC Rapid Antigen Test
Point-of-care rapid antigen testing refers to a type of indicative testing that utilizes rapid antigen tests to determine the existence of specific proteins on the surface of a virus or bacteria within a few minutes.
These tests are conducted and diagnosed at or near the site of patient care, rather than in a laboratory, by a healthcare provider or other medically trained individual. Also, the POC COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits are designed for administration by a healthcare professional rather than self-test and the results can be read visually, which makes them handy for testing.
However, by following the guidance of a trained medical expert, an adult can comfortably administer the test.
Moreover, these tests are simple and quick to perform, normally taking only a few minutes to get results (10 to 40 minutes). Ergo, they are often used to screen large groups of people. They are used in schools, workplaces, or long-term care facilities to quickly identify those who may be infected and need to be isolated.
But, it is important to note that a negative result does not exclude the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 infection and it should not be employed as the last basis for treatment or other medical decisions.
Is Rapid Antigen Test Specific for COVID?
Rapid antigen tests are specific for COVID, meaning they are designed to detect the presence of the virus that causes COVID-19 in a person’s nasal or throat swab sample. These tests can provide results within 15-30 minutes and are typically less expensive than PCR tests.
But, antigen tests are not regarded as dependable as PCR tests. The accuracy of these tests contrasts and they may have a higher rate of incorrect outcomes compared to PCR tests.
With rapid antigen tests, a negative result does not eliminate the possibility of not having the COVID-19 virus. You may take the test a second time which, more or less, ensures that your results are accurate. Therefore, a negative result should be confirmed with a PCR test.
How Accurate are POC Rapid Antigen Tests?
The POC COVID-19 rapid antigen tests are quite accurate when taken carefully. Besides, point-of-care testing is performed by clinical specialists, consequently, they are more accurate than other forms of rapid antigen testing.
Plus, several surveys and research enacted against the RT-PCR test have evaluated that the authenticity and sensitivity of the POC COVID-19 rapid antigen test range from 95-98%.
POC COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test Kits Cost
The cost can not be determined blatantly since it depends on various factors like long-route transportation, far-away shipping, custom state laws, and so on. Though, you will find that POC COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits are far too affordable than RT-PCR test, which is considered a gold method to determine COVID infection.
Nevertheless, have no hesitation and reach out to us if you need any kind of COVID test kits. The details for the purchase of COVID test kits are available on our website’s homepage.
Or, Contact us to buy the Flowflex, Salocor, or any COVID antigen test kits dealing with our sales team directly. SVI Medical Group distributes COVID antigen test kits all around the world at the most reasonable price.
You can also fill out the contact form, email us, or give us a call at any time. Our contact details are available at the end of the website.
Lists of FDA Approved Antigen Test Kits
Moving along, let us give you brief information about some of the COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits. You can procure these test kits from nearby medical facilities or if possible, you can buy them online.
1. Flowflex Antigen Test Kits
Flowflex antigen test kit is an over-the-counter (OTC) test kit that can be used to determine the COVID-19 infection in a person. The OTC means you do not need a doctor’s prescription to purchase the testing kit. This test kit uses a nasal swab to collect a sample from the person being tested and can provide results within 15 minutes.
Flowflex antigen test kit is easy to use and can be operated at home or in a professional setting. You will be given an instruction manual inside the kit which you can read and carefully follow the advice to perform the test at the place of your convenience.
What’s more, the test kit applies to children as well. The examination should be done by an adult and the test can be administered to children of age 2 to 14.
Also, the Flowflex antigen rapid test is highly accurate with more than 80% authenticity. Plus, it is approved by the FDA to use under Emergency Usage Authorization. You can use Flowflex antigen test kits at home or the workplace without any worries.
2. Salocor Antigen Test Kits
In difference to Flowflex antigen test kits, Salocor antigen test kit is a POC test kit. Here, the POC test means an individual has to visit a nearby testing facility for a check, or the samples may be self-collected under the supervision of a health practitioner or licensed medical personnel.
It too uses a nasal or throat swab as a sample to diagnose the COVID-19 infection. You will get accurate visual results that are easy to interpret under 10 minutes.
Like Flowflex antigen test kit, you will be given an instruction guide, but, the supplier’s instructions for POC rapid antigen tests are not intended for general customer understanding. Medical training is a must to fully understand how to take samples correctly without any incidents and mistakes, and where relevant, how to properly perform and interpret the results.
For this reason, the preciseness of Salocor antigen test kits is superior to OTC test kits.
Regrettably, the Salocor antigen test is not suitable to use in children. A POC testing needs a deep nasal or nasopharyngeal swab, making it difficult to collect swabs in children.
Lastly, it is important to note that the FDA has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for this product, and it is only authorized for use in point-of-care settings by trained healthcare technicians and is not for at-home use.
Benefits of POC Rapid Antigen Test
Let us also discuss the possible benefits of exercising the POC rapid antigen test.
Fast Results: POC rapid antigen tests are generally known for their capability of delivering swift results. The results will appear in as little as 15 minutes.
Convenience: These tests can be administered at the point of care, such as at a doctor’s office or a testing site, rather than requiring a sample to be sent to a laboratory for processing. Hence, it provides comfort and ease for a patient not to have to wait a long period to get conclusions, as well as, not to be worried that the examination was done by some unskilled person.
Cost-effectiveness: POC rapid antigen tests are generally more budget-friendly than PCR tests, which are the most common type of COVID-19 test.
Accessibility: In addition, the POC COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits are available around the globe. You can easily access them from a neighboring pharmacy and ask a medical expert to operate the test.
High Sensitivity: Interestingly, the POC COVID-19 rapid antigen tests have higher authenticity than the OTC tests. Since the tests are handled by professionals, the POC rapid antigen test could be as high as 95-98%.
FAQs
Are Rapid antigen home tests accurate?
Rapid antigen home tests are usually accurate when they are used by people showing the signs or symptoms of COVID-19, especially during the first week of infection. However, several clinical studies have shown the accuracy of these tests over 80%.
What is a POC rapid antigen test?
A POC (point-of-care) rapid antigen test is a test that can quickly detect human antibodies produced in the days after a person is infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In simple words, it identifies the antigens (proteins) from the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a patient’s sample, such as a nasal swab.
Do rapid antigen tests detect Omicron?
Rapid antigen tests do detect Omicron, however, according to FDA’s recent report, the at-home tests may not recognize or “may have reduced sensitivity” at detecting the Omicron variant.