IDI Reminds Residents Don't Just Plug The Nose In Your Own Antigen Test, This Is Dangerous

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BANDARLAMPUNG - The Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) Bandarlampung Branch appealed to the public not to carry out self-antigen tests.

"I don't recommend residents to do their own rapid antigen test, because it is very dangerous if they are not careful," said Head of IDI Bandarlampung Branch, Dr Aditya M Biomed, quoted by Antara, Sunday, August 1.

According to him, if you want to do an antigen test, it should be done by people who are experts in their fields because the nasal bone is cartilage and it contains many arterial nerves which if not done carefully can cause bleeding.

"The nasal bone is cartilage, if it is poked by someone who is not an expert, especially if the quality of the swab is bad or hard, it can cause blisters and the effect will be bleeding," he said.

Then, continued Dr. Aditya, the most important thing is who will interpret that the swab results themselves are positive for COVID-19 or negative. Even in the antigen test kit there are also positive and negative indications as well as invalid.

"So indeed using rapid tests is not as easy as it seems because there is a time, it cannot be dripped directly and then read the results, so those who do it must be trained if the general public is not their field," he said.

Dr. Aditya also explained that the rapid antigen test examination is a support to proceed to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, but this is done for close contacts and people who have symptoms of COVID-19.

"If everyone just brushes it off, even those who are not symptomatic, just play the test, so what is the conclusion? So if they are positive, are they referred to PCR or are they sure this is a positive person for COVID-19 with the results of their own antigen test. So this is not the work of ordinary people "said Dr. Aditya.

Meanwhile, the sub-district head of Bumi Waras, North Telukbetung, Riana Apriana, said that around 70 residents are currently self-isolating (isoman) and some of them have tested positive for COVID-19 from their own rapid antigen results.

"So, after the sub-district post call center was opened for isoman patients, many residents reported and provided information that they were isoman. So when they called, I asked where you tested positive, they said the test itself," he said.

Riana said that in order to ensure that the residents were indeed positive for COVID-19, she also asked for evidence from the person concerned.

"So we also ask whether there is evidence that they are positive for COVID-19, usually they show it through photos to the officers, after that we provide supervision, medicine and also assistance provided by the city government. But some have recovered as well," continued Riana.