COMBATTING COVID-19: How to administer a COVID-19 Antigen rapid test

The Antigen test is currently the most widespread test for COVID-19 in Dominica; it has become a requirement for access to certain public and private sector institutions in the country and with Antigen testing kits already being made available to the public in other parts of the world, self administered antigen tests at home have become possible. This is not yet part of the government’s policy in Dominica but who knows what the future holds?

The information below, accompanied by a video, gives step by step instructions on how to administer a PRIMA lab antigen test.

A) Collect the nasal sample using the provided swab. Gently roll it into both nostrils and take it out. Alternatively, collect the nasopharyngeal sample by inserting the swab in the nasal cavity and holding it parallel to the palate. Gently rub and roll it and take it out;

B) Insert the swab into the extraction buffer and rotate it for about 10 seconds. Remove the swab while squeezing the sides of the test tube in order to extract as much liquid as possible;

C) Apply 3 drops of the extracted specimen into the sample well. Wait 15 minutes and read the results. After 20 minutes the results are no longer reliable.

Results interpretation:

Positive Result: Two coloured lines appear, one in the Control line region (C) and another in the Test line region (T). This result means that the test has identified the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antigens.

Negative Result: A coloured line appears in the Control (C) region and none in the Test (T) region.

Invalid Result: The Control line does not appear. An insufficient quantity of diluent or an incorrect procedure are the most likely reasons for the absence of the Control line. If the problem persists contact your local distributor.

COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test will only indicate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antigens in the specimen and should not be used as the sole criterion for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infections. The results obtained with this test should be considered on the evaluations resulting from other laboratory tests.