A top microbiologist has warned people against buying home testing kits for the new coronavirus, saying they are inaccurate and could lead to a misdiagnosis. RTHK found that clinics in Tsim Sha Tsui and Central have been selling a quick test kit for Covid-19 for HK$680. Another claim is that the test kits had been used on hundreds of patients on the mainland, with an accuracy rate of more than 90 percent. He noted that universities, hospitals and health authorities are not using blood samples to check for the novel coronavirus, but instead test saliva or sputum. He warned that the misuse of quick test kits could lead to an incorrect diagnosis, misleading patients into thinking they have a clean bill of health, or that they are infected with the virus which can be deadly.-Photo: RTHK

Source: The Standard March 12, 2020 07:18 UTC