Besides self-swabs, people in Singapore may encounter breathalyser and saliva tests going forward. Here are quick facts about the three types of tests:
As at Aug 12, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has authorised the use of six antigen rapid self-test kits.
Cost: Most of the kits retail at S$10 to S$13. The price per kit may be lower in a multi-kit pack.
How quickly results will be known: 15 to 30 minutes.
Where it is used: Quick Test Centres and at home.
The HSA has granted provisional authorisation for two COVID-19 breathalysers: BreFence Go COVID-19 Breath Test System and TracieX Breathalyser.
Cost: BreFence’s developer, local start-up Breathonix, says each test costs US$5 (S$7) to US$20, depending on the volume of deployment; each TracieX test costs US$20, though mass production could reduce the price, says Nanyang Technological University Associate Professor Ling Xing Yi, who co-founded Silver Factory Technology, which developed TracieX.
How quickly results will be known: Within two minutes.
Where they are on trial: Changi Airport, land checkpoints, National Centre for Infectious Diseases.
The Resolute 2.0 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kit allows people to draw saliva from deep within their throat and spit into a specimen bottle for testing.
Developed by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s Diagnostics Development Hub and DSO National Laboratories, the kit is distributed by medical device company Advanced MedTech Holdings.
Cost: Competitive with standard PCR tests, which range from $125 to $200.
How quickly results will be known: About an hour.
Where it is used: Locations include hospitals, laboratories, Singapore Armed Forces camps, Changi Airport and other checkpoints.
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SELF-SWABS
As at Aug 12, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has authorised the use of six antigen rapid self-test kits.
Cost: Most of the kits retail at S$10 to S$13. The price per kit may be lower in a multi-kit pack.
How quickly results will be known: 15 to 30 minutes.
Where it is used: Quick Test Centres and at home.
BREATHALYSERS
The HSA has granted provisional authorisation for two COVID-19 breathalysers: BreFence Go COVID-19 Breath Test System and TracieX Breathalyser.
Cost: BreFence’s developer, local start-up Breathonix, says each test costs US$5 (S$7) to US$20, depending on the volume of deployment; each TracieX test costs US$20, though mass production could reduce the price, says Nanyang Technological University Associate Professor Ling Xing Yi, who co-founded Silver Factory Technology, which developed TracieX.
How quickly results will be known: Within two minutes.
Where they are on trial: Changi Airport, land checkpoints, National Centre for Infectious Diseases.
SALIVA TESTS
The Resolute 2.0 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kit allows people to draw saliva from deep within their throat and spit into a specimen bottle for testing.
Developed by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s Diagnostics Development Hub and DSO National Laboratories, the kit is distributed by medical device company Advanced MedTech Holdings.
Cost: Competitive with standard PCR tests, which range from $125 to $200.
How quickly results will be known: About an hour.
Where it is used: Locations include hospitals, laboratories, Singapore Armed Forces camps, Changi Airport and other checkpoints.
Continue reading...