Covid-19 : How To Do A Self-test ?
If you are in contact with a full vaccination schedule, you should do a Covid-19 self-test at home. If you're not sure how to do this, read the handy guide below. It explains how to properly perform a nasal swab self-test.
When should I take this test?
There are several cases in which one can perform a Covid-19 self-test, including:
- As a precaution before meeting up with loved ones to share the galette des Rois, for example
- when you are in contact with a complete vaccination schedule
- as part of school screening for children who are contact cases under 12 years of age
Indeed, the isolation rules have changed since January 3, 2022. If your child is a case contact at school or if you are a case contact with a full vaccination schedule, you must perform this type of test at D+2 and D+4 after the last contact with the positive person.
Where can I buy this test?
Previously restricted to pharmacies, the sale of self-tests has been exceptionally authorized in mass merchandisers until January 31, 2022.
Currently, therefore, it is possible to buy this type of test in pharmacies but also in supermarkets.
If you purchase the self-test in a pharmacy, the pharmacist will explain how to proceed.
But if you buy it in a big box store, you will be more on your own. You will then need to read the instructions even more carefully BEFORE you start the test.
In pharmacies as well as supermarkets, be aware that the sale price for the general public is limited to 5.20 € per self-test.
These tests are not reimbursed by the Health Insurance, except in the context of screening children under 12 years of age and contact case persons with a complete vaccination schedule.
What is the procedure to follow?
To properly perform a self-test at home, be sure to do things in the right order.
Before you begin, wash your hands with soap and water or hydroalcoholic gel.
Take all the items out of the box and place them on a clean, flat surface.
Read the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Prepare the tube containing the reagent formula and the cassette for Reading the result before performing the collection.
Once you have completed all of these preliminary steps, you are ready to perform the actual nasal swab.
How do I take a nasal swab?
Self-tests are antigenic tests by nasal swab. They are less sensitive than PCR tests but also less invasive.
To take the swab, you must:
- Insert the swab vertically into the nostril for 2 to 3 cm.
- Tilt the shaft upward into the nostril until you encounter slight resistance, but without forcing
- perform a 5 rotation motion before removing the swab.
Next, you should:
- Wring out the swab in the reagent solution for 10 seconds.
- pour 4 drops of the solution into the cassette well (zone S)
- wait between 10 and 15 minutes for a result.
The Department of Health has made a video tutorial to explain how to perform this nasal test yourself:
How to read the result?
If only one colored band appears in area C (the control area), the test result is negative.
If two colored bands appear at the C and T areas, the test result is positive.
If the control line does not appear in the C area, the test is invalid and a new test must be performed.
Note: If a self-test result is positive, you must perform an antigenic or RT-PCR test in the laboratory to confirm the result.
