Covid self-test: how does it work?

The coronavirus self-tests are arriving "from this week" in pharmacies and supermarkets, according to the Director General of Health. But how exactly do they work?

The coronavirus self-tests? "It will be quite easy to access", said, Sunday March 14, 2021, the Director General of Health Jérôme Salomon on the set of BFM TV. On sale "from this week" in France, these self-tests may be available in pharmacies and supermarkets, for family use. However, nothing is settled, because it is necessary to await the opinion of the High Authority of health. This committee is responsible for evaluating the self-tests. The body is due to meet this Monday, March 15, 2021. In our neighbors, the self-tests are already present: in Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or even in Austria.

# 1 How do these self-tests work?

As France Info reminds us, the self-test is an antigen test. And its use is very simple: thanks to a kind of cotton swab, all you have to do is rub the walls of its nostrils and soak the rod in a solution that will detect the presence or not of Covid-19. With a result in less than half an hour. Yes "a colored line appears", the test is positive, says the newspaper South West. However, a problem appears in this mechanism: tracing. The home test, which may turn out to be positive, does not guarantee that infected people notify their contacts … Another open question: will these self-tests be used in schools or in companies? The Haute Autorité de santé will have to respond.

# 2 How much will these self-tests cost?

In the event of a positive opinion from the Haute Autorité de santé, the self-test would be covered 100% by Social Security. "The idea is that we have easy access to the tests and you notice that France is the only country where the tests are fully supported", underlined Jérôme Salomon. It will thus be necessary to present his vital card as during PCR tests and antigenic tests. Germans pay an average of five euros per self-test. If full coverage is refused, the self-tests in France could cost a little less than 10 euros.

Celine Peschard

Journalist who loves the versatility that his profession can offer. Specialized in the historical field, societal subjects and auteur films, against a background of electronic music. University course based on …