Refining the home test was done after people started posting their results on social media with the hashtag #SwabYourThroat.
The agency warned that people should use the tests as directed.
“FACT: When it comes to #COVID-19 rapid antigen testing at home, those swabs are for your nose, not your throat,” it said Friday on Twitter.
Throat swabs are common in some places. In the UK, the National Health Service notes that some rapid tests for people with no symptoms of COVID-19 may require both nasal swabs and throat swabs. But in the US, most self-exams require a nose sample; The report says a few involve saliva collected by spitting into a tube.
“The FDA advises that COVID-19 tests should be used when authorized, including following the instructions for use regarding the collection of samples for testing,” an FDA spokesperson told CNN.
“The FDA has noted safety concerns associated with self-collecting throat swabs because they are more complex than nasal swabs – and if used incorrectly, can harm patients.”
Source: IANS
