A covid selvtest is usually the best way for you to know whether you have covid-19 or not. Many people usually prefer to stay home and test themselves as opposed to visiting a health centre. While many people seem to get the tests right, other people seem to be confused by the entire process. This is a definitive guide to taking your covid-19 self-tests at home.
1). Prepare a suitable place for the test
Before you do your Covid-19 self-test, you should stay away from any food or drink for about half an hour before the test. As you set up a suitable area for the test, you have to know that you will need certain things. The things that you will need include:
- A stop clock or watch
- Tissues
- A surface cleaner
- A mirror
- A soap or a hand sanitiser
- Warm water
Before you commence the test, you shall need a dry, clean, and clear surface to put the testing kits. To begin the test, you will need to thoroughly wash your hands for about 20 seconds. You can use warm water and soap for this or just a hand sanitiser. People doing multiple tests are expected to rewash their hands and reclean the testing surfaces between every test.
2). Inspecting your covid-19 testing kit
Before you finally begin your tests, you will need to check your covid-19 testing kits to ensure that the contents are complete. When you check through your kits, you should have common contents like sealed test strips, extraction tube holders, an extraction tube, a waste bag, a swab enclosed in a sealed wrapper, and so on. It is important to note that test kits might be slightly different in terms of contents from different makers. But all testing kits come with mostly similar features.
3). Setting up the test
Setting the test should be done according to the instructions outlined in the kit. You should bring out all the contents of the kit and place them on a clean surface. As soon as your open up the kit, you are expected to complete each test in about 30 minutes. You should bring out all the items and place them neatly onto a clean surface. Ensure that all items are visible. You can now follow the instructions for the test. Test instructions would vary slightly according to the test kit manufacturers. It is important to pay attention to specific instructions for each test kit.
3). Take a swab sample
Your covid-19 test begins when you take a swab sample with the provided materials of the test. You should be careful to avoid specific parts of the mouth when taking the sample. Try not to touch the tip of the fabric by using your hands. Various instructions need to be followed when taking the test. Also, there are specific testing instructions for children that will need to be followed for the best results. Children just like adults are also susceptible to the virus. All the steps needed to take the swab sample should be followed.
4). Analyzing your swab sample
After taking a swab sample, the next stage is for you to process the sample. This is a delicate stage of the process and should be done with utmost care. You should follow all necessary steps when performing at this stage. Once more, you should ensure that you wash your hands after this process. For this stage, you will need the timer. You should normally get a result after 30 minutes.
5). Reading the test result
Waiting for more than 30 minutes before reading your test will make it invalid. At this point, try to read the result within 30 minutes and after that follow recommended instructions by world health organizations and experts. You should follow all instructions properly to avoid getting void results with your tests. Void results are invalid results and mean that you will need to repeat all processes to take a test.