It has been almost a year since COVID-19 self-test kits were distributed in Korea, and medical circles point out that re-evaluation of the accuracy of the self-test kit is necessary.

Self-inspection kits approved for use do not need to be re-evaluated for post-performance, but in the pandemic era, where self testing is commonplace, the government should re-test the performance and quality of products. 

When the COVID-19 self-test kit was first introduced in Korea, controversy continued as it was highly likely to misdiagnose positive patients as negative. There are many cases where a "quiet spreader" walks around with confidence after getting a negative result from a self-test kit.

In February, a positive result on a ‘fast antigen test’ including a self test, was put forward as a condition for receiving a PCR test. At one point, it became difficult to purchase a self-test kits. Although they are commonly used to diagnose COVID-19 these days, there is no way to estimate the accuracy of the results for self-inspection kits. 

L.L.F reporter Na-gyeong Kim