Don't worry, the government is working on making COVID-19 testing more accessible soon.

Proposal awaiting approval

The government is reportedly considering allowing Malaysians to purchase the RTK-Antigen test kit from their local pharmacists or medical centres for hassle-free COVID-19 home tests very soon.

This has been announced by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, as reported by Malay Mail.

He told the news portal that the test kits would allow the public to run the test using their saliva.

“We’re using the RTK-PCR, the gold standard, to test on the field. For screenings, we use the RTK-Antigen in several states who also want to do their own as well as Perkeso who use the same test.

“Due to that, we are trying to allow more people to do their own tests so we are trying to provide these RTK-Antigen kits to the public through the pharmacies, medical depot and suppliers,” he said, as quoted in the report.

He said the kits and suppliers must have the right specificity and sensitivity for the RTK-Antigen kit and from there, people must use the nasopharyngeal swab method to do the test with their saliva samples.

However, Dr Adham said the proposal is still awaiting approval from the authorities.

Making COVID-19 tests more accessible will ease symptomatic people who could not go to the medical centre to get tested.