PRESS STATEMENT
Use of Over-the-counter COVID-19 Test Kits
The College has noticed that a variety of over-the-counter Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) self-test kits are being promoted in the market. We are concerned that the public could be misled by the results of these kits.
These over-the-counter test kits usually utilize pinprick blood samples to detect IgG or IgM antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Antibodies are produced over days to weeks after infection; the level and timing of response vary among individuals. The performance of these kits, including sensitivity and specificity (i.e. respectively whether the test can accurately exclude COVID-19 infection and whether a positive result is reliable to indicate actual infection), also varies among assays. Thus, the public must be aware of the risk of false negative and false positive results.
A false negative result may cause a false sense of security, which could potentially increase transmission of the virus to others and result in delay in seeking medical consultation and management. On the other hand, a false positive result will lead to undue anxiety and unnecessary investigations, and even public health measures such as isolation of the person and his or her close contacts.
The College reiterates that the current test of choice for the diagnosis of active COVID-19 infection remains polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based tests detecting viral nucleic acids. The detection of antibodies is neither a suitable nor a reliable alternative. The College urges the public to seek advice from medical professionals if COVID-19 infection is suspected.
End / Wednesday / 29 April 2020
Issued at HKT 14:00
Tel: +852 2871 8756
新聞稿
就市面上出售的新型冠狀病毒快速測試之聲明
近日坊間出現各式各樣的新型冠狀病毒快速測試,並透過不同媒體銷售。惟快速測試結果存疑，有誤導公眾之嫌,本學院非常關注。
市面上售賣之試劑盒，一般採用針刺血液樣本來檢測 SARS-CoV-2 病毒的 IgM 或 IgG 抗體。抗體於感染後數天至數週方能達至可偵測的水平，抗體之濃度及產生之時間亦因人而異。市場上不同牌子之測試劑,其敏感性 (sensitivity) 和特異性 (specificity) 不盡相同，因此市民應注意有假陰性和假陽性 結果之風險。
假陰性結果會令市民錯誤以為自己未有受感染，從而潛在增加將病毒傳播給他人的風險,及導致延誤最佳診治的時間。另一方面，假陽性結果則會引致不必要的焦慮,多重覆檢,甚至需要採取公共衞生措施，如本人及密切接觸者的隔離檢疫。
本學院重申，目前診斷新型冠狀病毒以聚合酶鏈反應(PCR)測試病毒核酸為首選。現時市場上出售之快速抗體測試並不適合及不可靠。本學院呼籲公眾如懷疑自己受感染,須及早向醫生求醫。
2020 年 4 月 29 日 (星期三) 2 時正
Tel: +852 2871 8756