With the widespread of the COVID-19 epidemic, the government and the Ministry of Health are working towards many preventive measures towards the disease. MyEG will be releasing a COVID-19 rapid test kit soon that can be used in the comfort of our own homes, without the help of medical professionals.
According to MyEG, the COVID-19 test kit that is going to be provided is developed by a leading diagnostics company in China, where it is currently being widely used, and it is also approved by health authorities.
The test kit is designed to swiftly detect COVID-19 antibodies which are produced in the body within 3 to 7 days of infection. The results can be obtained in as quickly as 30 minutes.
The groundbreaking kit involves test strips that will detect COVID-19 antibodies through blood samples obtained from finger-pricking. Similar to a pregnancy test kit, there are lines that will appear on the strip to indicate if the sample is positive or negative for the virus antibodies.
In comparison to home screening services, the COVID-19 rapid test kit will produce quicker results on-site. Home screening services will cost about RM700 and involve nose or throat swabs that will be sent to external diagnostic laboratories to be processed up to 24 hours.
On the other hand, antibodies are often undetectable until a few days after exposure to the virus but the conventional laboratory method can detect the virus DNA very much earlier from throat swab samples.
MyEG stated that the test kit's advantages are suitable for the rapid screening of suspected patients and a high-risk group of people, especially those traveling into the country.
MyEG is awaiting for approval by local authorities for the use of the COVID-19 rapid test kit at the moment. On the contrary, they have already started accepting preorders for the test kit via its online portal.
The test kits cost RM99 per kit or RM990 for a pack of 10 kits. The delivery will take about 2 weeks once approved.
A user manual and a visual guide are available on the website.
