Do-it-yourself test for Covid: how they work and how reliable they are

Do-it-yourself test for Covid: where to buy them, how they work and how reliable they are.

Among the methods to check for the presence of Covid 19 infection , there is that of the do-it-yourself test.
A kit that can be purchased in pharmacies and supermarkets and that allows you to find out if you are positive or not.
A route that is certainly faster than the traditional one but which, precisely for this reason, prompts many to ask themselves if and how much they are actually reliable .

Here’s what you need to know about them, how to use them and how useful they are in everyday life.

Do-it-yourself test for Covid: what they are and how they work

The kits to check for yourself the possible Covid 19 infection are now on sale both in pharmacies and in some supermarkets.

On the market there are two different types, one pharyngeal nose (like what is usually done in pharmacies) and the other salivary. Using them it is therefore possible to detect the presence of virus proteins and, consequently, a possible infection.

On the other hand, it is not possible to understand if antibodies are present. A difference that is important to know in order not to perform the test incorrectly. In both cases, these are tests that can be considered reliable even if with a sensitivity that can lead them to be inaccurate, especially with regard to children.

As for use, what is needed is all inside the kit which in ten minutes, with a method similar to that of pregnancy tests, usually manages to give an answer.

The limits of do-it-yourself tests: which ones are important to know

As already mentioned, although reliable, do-it-yourself tests have some limitations. First of all, that of not always being precise. For this reason, in the event of a positive outcome, it is necessary to carry out a molecular swab, however, placing oneself in quarantine beforehand. In case of negative results but with symptoms, the experts recommend instead to carry out a control test in the pharmacy.

Having said that, it is important to know that the negative DIY test does not give you the green pass for which you need the vaccine, the immunity obtained from the virus or a swab performed in the pharmacy. And this is because in the absence of witnesses it is not possible to ascertain that the result belongs to the person requesting it. For this reason, at the moment it is to be considered as a prevention technique to be used in the family or, as the Istituto Superiore di Sanità has suggested, to control one’s condition in order to protect the lessons in the presence.