One might often find themselves in the dilemma of going to get tested for the COVID-19 or not. With the second wave in place and an increase in the number of cases, this can be now cleared out with a self-testing kit called ‘CoviSelf’: a COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test which helps to get yourself tested at your own homes.
The RAT (Rapid Antigen Test) was discovered by Pune-based MyLab Discovery Solutions a year ago, which is now approved by the Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR), with the cost of Rs. 250 per kit, generating results instantly. According to the Press Release, The company announced that the Council has approved it as a self-used test which can be used by symptomatic individuals and immediate contacts of confirmed cases as per ICMR guidelines. This means that the users will not have to have a healthcare professional to collect their samples for the results. The main intention was to reduce the burden of testing centres and speed up the process to reduce delays in testing, which may take 72 hours in some areas.
Hasmukh Rawal, Managing Director of Mylab Discovery Solutions stated in a press release that “This is the biggest crisis our country has ever faced. Time and again, we have tried to observe carefully what our country needs and developed solutions with social benefit at the core. With CoviSelfTM., we are sharing the power of testing early with the citizens. It will save thousands of lives. For India, we will make millions of kits available at a fraction of the cost of such kits in the US.“
This means that any citizen can just test, seek isolation and receive treatment instantly, with the aim of reducing any burden on healthcare with early detection saving thousands of lives.
How does the CoviSelf work?
Each CoviSelf testing kit comes with all the testing materials, with the nature of the test sample being a Nasal Swab. It contains a ‘instructions to use’ (IFU) leaflet and a biohazard bag to safely dispose off after testing. The nasal swab is different from the deep nasopharyngeal swab to reduce discomfort for the users. The test will provide the results within 15 minutes, with users isolating themselves, and seeking treatment if tested positive. The ICMR advises people tested negative to immediately do an RT – PCR test taking precautionary measures and a follow-up from their healthcare providers. “This easy-to-use test combines with Mylab’s AI-powered mobile app so that a user can know his/her positive status, submit the result to ICMR directly for traceability, and know what to do next in either case of result.” stated Sujit Jain, Director at Mylab Discovery Solutions. The test results will be uploaded by the users to the app which can be helpful to collect the patients data immediately.
“Antigen tests are commonly used in the diagnosis of respiratory pathogens. The FDA had granted emergency authorisation for antigens that can identify the SARS-CoV-2. Hence, any viral antigen can be detected. But one should also make sure to follow the instructions carefully for proper interpretation of the results”, says Dr. Bhavana Bhagath, MD, Victoria Hospital, Bengaluru.
However, the ICMR does not advise indiscriminate testing, with the mobile app available on Google Play Store or Apple Store which must be downloaded by all users. The picture of the test results should be clicked by the user after the test procedure with the same number that was provided for the user registration. The pictorial and video link of the user manual is provided in the kit and the site respectively.
The company’s current production capacity is 70 lakh tests per week and there are plans to increase its capacity to 1 crore tests per week within 14 days.
