Different brands of Antigen Rapid Test (ART) self-test kits are now available at pharmacies, supermarkets and convenience stores.

What this means is that you can test yourself for Covid-19 and get the results in less than 20 minutes.

However, do not self-test if you have any acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms such as fever, cough, flu or runny nose. Instead, visit a Swab and Send Home clinic immediately.

What is ART?

But what exactly is ART?

For the uninitiated, ART screens for SARS-CoV-2, also known as the virus that causes Covid-19.

According to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), ART can achieve sensitivity of about 80 per cent for cases with higher viral loads and a specificity range of 97 to 100 per cent.

In this case, sensitivity refers to the test’s ability to correctly detect Covid-19 infection in individuals with the virus.

Specificity, on the other hand, refers to the test’s ability to correctly identify individuals without Covid-19 infection.

Self test takes less than 20 minutes

Curious (and also since I wanted to work in the office after spending months cooped up at home), I got myself one set of the self-test kits available at the retail pharmacy.

There’s the ABCDS of the ART self-testing that should help one to go through the process of self-testing:

• Act
• Be informed
• Check
• Dispose
• Stay safe

I was also recommended to buy two sets of the self-test kit, just in case the first result is invalid.

That aside, the pharmacist who sold me the test kit was thorough and went through how to use the test kit and what to do in case I got a positive or invalid result.

I also received this booklet with more useful information.

Just in case I felt overwhelmed, there is a step-by-step guide that came along with the self-test kit.

I washed my hands before starting the test (hygiene first, guys).

Then, I simply followed the instructions included in the test kit.

Overall, everything went pretty smoothly since the instructions were detailed and easy to follow.

I waited for my results, as specified in the instructions and got some good news: I tested negative for Covid-19.

As a rather meticulous first-timer, the whole process took me close to 25 minutes.

Overall, the self-test was easy.

The most daunting part, however, had to be the swabbing part.

As someone who isn’t medically-trained and has been swabbed several times by a professional, I was expecting some pain.

But no, it wasn’t painful. Just a slight ticklish sensation that made me sneeze a few times.

Thankfully, my experience was just as mild as the experience of my other colleagues:

“It took me a total of around 18 minutes to do it, including the waiting time for the test results, and it went smoothly. I bought extra test kits in case I messed up the testing but didn't need to use extras.

It's quite hard to gauge how deep to put the swab stick in when you're doing it yourself. But I think the recommendation was about two centimetres into the nostril so I was mindful of that. Also I sneezed after I did it, so I think it should have been ok.”

“Less daunting than I expected. It was manageable and the instructions were very clear.”

Who can do an ART self-test?

In case you’re curious, there are no age restrictions on the purchase and use of ART self-test kits.

According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), these test kits can be purchased by anybody who is worried and wishes to put their mind at ease.

Companies may also encourage employees to perform regular testing using ART to prevent workplace transmission.

ART self-testing should not be performed if you’ve had or undergone a:

• Nosebleed in the past 24 hours
• Nasal surgery in the last four weeks
• Facial surgery in the last eight weeks

Those who fall in the above-mentioned categories should visit any licensed ART provider to have their test performed by a professional.

And remember, if you are unwell, don’t perform any ART self-testing. Seek medical attention at a Swab and Send Home clinic immediately.

Top image by Fasiha Nazren.

This sponsored post by the Ministry of Health has made the writer feel safer with the self-test kit she has taken.