Jinju-si Conducts COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Testing

Distribution of Rapid Antigen Test Kits Secured Independently to Emergency Medical Institutions

COVID-19 Screening Clinic in Jinju-si, Gyeongnam. (Photo by Jinju-si)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] On the 17th, the Jinju City Public Health Center in Gyeongnam Province plans to distribute rapid antigen test kits, which it has independently secured, to hospitals for quick screening, protection of medical staff, and safety of citizens in the event of unexpected exposure to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Rapid antigen testing is a diagnostic method that collects specimens by swabbing inside the nose and confirms infection status within 15 to 30 minutes. It is similar to the existing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic method, but unlike PCR, it does not amplify genetic material; instead, it detects whether viral proteins in the specimen act as antigens to diagnose infection.

Generally, it is less sensitive than PCR testing but valuable for providing immediate results.

The kits distributed to emergency medical institutions are utilized by medical personnel based on appropriate judgment, referring to guidelines for antigen testing from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A city official stated, “We plan to actively use rapid antigen testing not only in nursing and psychiatric hospitals where medical staff are stationed but also for periodic proactive testing in infection-vulnerable facilities such as nursing homes, applying it to block infections in high-risk facilities.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.