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For the first time in Korea, an individual has approved a COVID-19 self-test kit that uses saliva as a sample to check whether or not they are infected with the coronavirus.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved the COVID-19 saliva self-test kit developed by PCL today (29th).
Unlike a self-test kit that uses a sample in the nose, this product uses saliva in the mouth as a sample.
According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, it has met the criteria for approval of self-test kits of 90% or more and 99% or more in specificity.
Sensitivity refers to the probability that the test result of a patient with the disease is positive, and specificity refers to the probability that the test result of a person without the disease is negative.
The saliva test kit is used by spitting directly into the solution container using a funnel and mixing it with the extract.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety expects that the introduction of various test methods with the approval of the saliva self-test kit will help increase the convenience of use for children and the elderly.
(Photo = Getty Image Bank, provided by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Yonhap News)