How I Took A COVID Self-Test
Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have had to take several COVID tests that were performed by nurses so it was quite easy for me. Not to say that it was comfortable, because I am sure that no one likes something shoved up their nose. However, when it comes to rapid tests I found myself at a bit of a loss on how I was supposed to take the test independently if needed.
I had a basic idea of putting the swab up my nose, but other than that, no one had talked about the other pieces that come with a rapid test kit, or how a blind individual would read their result without exposing anyone else to the virus. At first I resigned myself to the fact that I couldn’t do it independently, and would always give that response when the subject came up. I didn’t want to open a test and figure it out if I actually didn’t have to use it because my school only provided students with five tests. People sympathized with me, and were at a loss of how it could work. I pushed it off, as I never had to use the test, but this weekend, I had to take a test, and I had to figure it out.
I had someone who (surprisingly) didn’t tell me to avoid the test just because I didn’t think I could do it. Instead, they gave me some steps which I paired up with an article I found online and got the test done. Often times when we Google things like this, we get images of step by step images of how to do the test, so find my accessible guide below. Yes, my test was negative.
Step 1: Open the box of tests and lay out all the small bags and pieces in the clean surface area you want to take the test in.
Step 2: Take out a plastic tube and put it in the tube rack. The rack is the thing that feels like a rectangle with several holes in it. At first I didn’t know what this was, but stick the bottom of the tube into a hole and it should stand up there. This will make putting the liquid into the tube easier.
Step 3: Find the bag with the little plastic pieces with little tab things at either end and take one out. At first I wasn’t sure where this mystery liquid was because I expected it to be heavy or make noise when shaken.
Step 4: Take this little piece and rip off a tab but make sure its facing up and down so that the liquid doesn’t pour out.
Step 5: Once you open it, stick the open end into the opening of the tube. It should fit, because the tube is valuable. Then squeeze the middle part of the plastic piece until the liquid is all out into the tube. This way you won’t touch it (like I did before I realized this trick).
Step 6: Now comes the fun part. Find the long packages that feel like they have sticks in them. Before you open this, though, feel through the package and find the hard end of the stick rather than the malleable one. Open the package on the side with the hard end so you can pull it out that way and not touch the part that will be going into your nose and throat.
Step 7: Swab both your nose and throat with the same swab. I know, its gross.
Step 8: Stick the swab into the tube and swirl it around well. Then, take out the swab but make sure to get all the liquid off of it.
Step 9: Wait a few minutes and put the cap on the tube. It is a cap that looks like a dropper cap like the ones attached to eye drop bottles.
Step 10: Take out the individual wrapped rectangle readers and lay it flat on the space you are working in. The reader has a circle hole on one side and then a longer dip in the middle.
Step 11: Find the outside of the circle with your finger and position the tube over top of it. Make sure the cap doesn’t touch it, but let it hover over the compartment.
Step 12: Slowly squeeze the tube three times. Or, you can do as I did and squeeze out all the liquid and let it overflow out of the circle.
Step 13: Now you have to set a timer for fifteen minutes and wait for the results to come in.
Step 14: This part is not completely accessible and is frustrating, but it is doable for now. Once the fifteen minutes are up, take your phone and take a picture of the rectangle reader so you can send it to someone you trust. Make sure to get close to the rectangle so the picture zooms into the dip and captures the result. You could also do this over Zoom or FaceTime if you prefer.
by Harjinder “Jinnie” Saran