'Imminent Release' COVID-19 Self-Test Kits Expected to Cost Around 10,000 Won

COVID-19 self-test kits are being produced at the Humasis Gunpo factory in Gunpo-si, Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] The consumer price of the COVID-19 self-test kits set to be released on the market is expected to be around 10,000 to 12,000 KRW per unit.

According to the industry on the 28th, Humasis is reportedly continuing internal discussions to sell the COVID-19 rapid antigen self-test kits at a price of 10,000 to 12,000 KRW per unit.

Earlier, on the 23rd, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety granted conditional approval for self-diagnosis use for the rapid antigen test kits from Humasis and SD Biosensor, marking the first such approval in Korea. Both products had previously been approved domestically for professional use, and have already received emergency approval for self-testing overseas.

Humasis's self-test kits are expected to be available for purchase at pharmacies and online as early as this weekend or early next month. SD Biosensor is currently in discussions with distributors to supply the test kits.

Both products are developed to allow individuals to collect samples by inserting a swab into their nostrils without professional assistance. After placing the sample into the reagent, test results can be confirmed within 15 to 30 minutes. However, since the sensitivity is lower compared to the existing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and the antigen method where professionals collect samples deep in the nasopharynx, these kits should only be used as supplementary tools.

If the self-test result shows two red lines indicating a positive result, a formal diagnostic test must be taken. Even if only one red line indicating a negative result appears, if symptoms are present or infection is suspected, a formal diagnostic test should also be conducted.

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