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| A woman receives a COVID-19 rapid antigen test at a screening site in Gangseo District, Seoul, Thursday. Newsis |
By Lee Hyo-jin
Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Korea has been offering free polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to all people who need them at screening centers across the country. But those days are now over.
In a bid to tackle the highly contagious but generally less lethal Omicron variant, the government has shifted its focus to vulnerable groups, introducing a new testing scheme concentrating on early diagnosis among these priority groups.
Under the new scheme, starting Thursday, PCR tests are on limited offer to those priority groups. For the rest, rapid antigen tests, also known as self-testing kits, will be more widely used.
Below are some questions and answers about how, where and which type of COVID-19 test to receive based on information provided by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Q. Who is eligible for a PCR test?
PCR tests are limited to elderly people aged 60 and over, people who have come in close contact with a COVID-19 patient, and those with a doctor's recommendation citing the need for the laboratory-processed test.
In addition, workers at high-risk facilities such as nursing homes and correctional facilities requiring preemptive testing on a regular basis, overseas entrants, as well as anyone who tested positive on a rapid antigen test, are also eligible for the PCR test.
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| A medical worker guides people on the use of COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits at a testing site near Seoul Station, Thursday. Yonhap |
Q. Where can I get tested if I am not in one of the priority groups?
People who are not eligible for a PCR test can either receive a rapid antigen test at a testing center or visit a local medical clinic to get the antigen test. Using a self-testing kit at home is also an option.
Starting Thursday, over 700 local health clinics nationwide have begun to diagnose and treat COVID-19 patients. These clinics receive patients with COVID-19-like symptoms on a pre-booking system in order to prevent virus transmissions.
The list of local clinics available for coronavirus tests and treatment can be browsed on the official websites of the health ministry or the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, as well as on Naver Map or Kakao Map.
Q. How much do the tests cost?
Both PCR tests and rapid antigen tests conducted at screening centers are free of charge. COVID-19 diagnoses offered at local clinics are also free, but visitors must pay a medical fee of about 5,000 won for a consultation with a doctor. At-home testing kits available at drug stores or online are priced at around 7,000 won each, but prices may vary from product to product.
Q. What should I do if I test positive with a self-testing kit?
If a person tests positive with a self-testing kit at home, he or she should undergo a PCR test, as the latter is a more accurate and reliable diagnosis.
Individuals should take the completed self-test kit in a sealed bag to a nearby testing center and show it to the medical workers there. They are recommended to travel by private car or walk to the test site and avoid using public transportation.
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| A medical worker at a COVID-19 testing center near Seoul Station writes down the rapid antigen test results of visitors, Thursday. Yonhap |
Q. Are rapid antigen tests less accurate than PCR tests?
Yes, rapid antigen tests, also known as lateral flow tests, are less reliable in detecting the coronavirus. Since they look for proteins or antigens that are produced by an active virus, they can detect only high viral loads.
PCR tests are more sensitive. As the process involves amplification of genetic material, even a small amount of coronavirus genes in a person's sample can be detected.
Q. Can negative rapid antigen test results be used in lieu of the vaccine pass?
Until now, only PCR test results were used as a substitute for a valid vaccine pass. The vaccine pass system has required people to show proof of vaccination or negative test results upon entering multiuse facilities.
Under the new measures, negative rapid antigen tests results can replace PCR ones, but only if they were conducted by medical personnel or under the supervision of a healthcare worker. Self-administered COVID-19 tests conducted at home are not recognized.
The antigen test has to be performed a maximum of 24 hours before entering a multiuse facility, which is less than the validity of the results of the PCR test, which lasts for 48 hours.
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