HCM City residents given guide for COVID-19 self-testing at home

Residents in Ho Chi Minh City will be able to conduct a COVID-19 self-test at home by using rapid antigen testing (RAT), as part of a pilot scheme by the municipal Department of Health (DoH).
HCM City residents given guide for COVID-19 self-testing at home ảnh 1Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) – Residents in Ho Chi Minh City will be able to conduct a COVID-19 self-test at home by using rapid antigen testing (RAT), as part of a pilot scheme by the municipal Department of Health (DoH).

To implement the scheme, the department on August 22 guided residents how to do a COVID-19 self-test at home in alley 446, Le Van Sy street, Ward 14, District 3.

The model is expected to detect suspected COVID-19 cases, then take further testing to confirm, localise and stamp out the outbreak. It also reduces the overload of the health sector in the face of widespread testing pressure.

According to the DoH, proper use of testing procedures and sampling techniques will help give correct people results. Otherwise, it will lead to incorrect ones.

The accuracy of the RAT is only relative, about 80 and 90 percent. A false positive result can cause confusion and anxiety and need a RT-PCR test to confirm but a false negative result will be very dangerous to the community

Nguyen Huu Dat, a third-year student at Nguyen Tat Than University, who was assigned to support local residents said to perform the rapid test, family members need to prepare tools and other items included in a quick test kit, including test trays, filter caps, test tubes containing extracts, and sterile cotton swabs.

The hardest job is putting the sterile cotton swab into the nostril deep enough for the tip to absorb the most of the new specimen for accurate results, he said.

HCM City residents given guide for COVID-19 self-testing at home ảnh 2 Phan Dinh Hoang Phuong, who lives in Ho Chi Minh city’s District 3, practise collecting swab samples from one of his relatives for COVID-19 testing. (Photo: VNA)

Phan Dinh Hoang Phuong, who lives in alley 466 Le Van Sy street in District 3’s Ward 14, said he believed that taking COVID-19 testing at home will help him and his family member feel more secure. It allows them to be aware of their infection, have timely quarantine measures and notify local medical facilities, avoiding the spread of COVID-19 to the family and the community.

According to Pham Thi Bich Hanh, head of District 3 Health Centre’s Testing Department, the implementation of a pilot scheme on instructing people to take samples for COVID-19 test at home not only plays an important role in speeding up COVID-19 detection at households but also helps ensure timely zoning off and effective pandemic prevention and control plans. However, she said that people should follow the right process and technique for the most accurate test results.

In the immediate future, District 3's health sector will transfer rapid test kits to wards, once receiving the kits, she said.

Priority will be given to places where there are suspected epidemiological signs such as the red zone, orange zone, yellow zone in line with the demand of localities, Hanh said./.

VNA

See more

PM Pham Minh Chinh (second from right) visits the Karolinska Institutet. (Photo: VNA)

PM seeks stronger medical ties with Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet

The PM called for closer, broader, and more effective cooperation with Vietnamese partners, guided by the principles of mutual benefit, joint efforts, shared outcomes, and common development, including promoting stronger public-private partnerships and collaboration with businesses.

D.F (left), a US patient, at a follow-up examination with Do Lenh Hung, head of the department of urethral reconstructive surgery. (Photo: VNA)

High-quality healthcare services attract more foreign patients to Binh Dan Hospital

Renowned for its expertise in complex surgeries, the hospital has attracted foreign patients seeking treatment for conditions such as kidney and urinary tract stones, urological and gastrointestinal cancers, and male reproductive disorders. Most procedures are performed using advanced techniques, including laparoscopy and robotic surgery. T

A banner on the side of a car urges people to quit smoking for their own health and that of their loved ones (Photo: VNA)

Sharp tobacco tax hike urged to safeguard youths, community health

A 2023 report by the Vietnam Health Economics Association estimated that the total cost of tobacco-related healthcare and economic losses reached 108 trillion VND (4.14 billion USD) annually – equivalent to 1.14% of GDP and five times higher than the budget revenue generated by the tobacco industry.

On the morning of May 26, 2025, following bilateral talks at the Presidential Palace, President Luong Cuong (first, right) and French President Emmanuel Macron (first, left) witness the exchange of cooperation documents between leaders of ministries, agencies, and enterprises from both countries. In the photo: Ngo Chi Dung, General Director and Chairman of the Board of Viet Nam Vaccine Company (VNVC) (second, right), and Zainab Sadat Qayyum, President of Sanofi Southeast Asia – India, exchange the cooperation agreement on the transfer of Sanofi’s vaccine production technology to VNVC’s vaccine and biologicals plant. (Photo: VNVC)

Vietnam, France collaborate in vaccine production technology transfer

Under the agreement, VNVC and Sanofi will gradually implement technology transfers to enable domestic production of several key Sanofi vaccines that are widely used in Vietnam. In addition, Sanofi will support VNVC in training human resources and quality management in vaccine research and manufacturing.

Medical facilities have been instructed to prepare necessary infrastructure, medical equipment, and supplies to ensure effective patient admission, isolation, diagnosis, treatment, and infection control. - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Enhanced anti-COVID-19 measures in place amid rising cases

According to the World Health Organisation, more than 25,000 COVID-19 cases have been recorded globally over the past month. Notably, from January 1 to May 10, Thailand reported nearly 54,000 infections and 16 deaths. The rise in cases in Thailand has been linked to the spread of XBB.1.16 subvariant.

The working session between the Vietnamese delegation and the Cuban Ministry of Health (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Cuba deepen health partnership with focus on biopharmaceuticals

During a working session with Cuban Deputy Minister of Health Tania Margarita Cruz Hernández, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen described the bilateral medical partnership as a vivid symbol of international solidarity, one deeply rooted in the historic friendship fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and leader Fidel Castro.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam commits to protecting people's health: PM

In his message, the Vietnamese leader emphasised that throughout Vietnam’s construction and development process, people have always been placed at the centre – as both the goal and the driving force of progress. He reaffirmed the country's highest priority on caring for people's health and human development.

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan speaks at a high-level session of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) on May 20. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam reaffirms close ties with WHO

Vietnam has achieved notable health milestones with WHO’s continuous support, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan said, noting Vietnam hopes to maintain this trusted cooperation.

Promoting the branding of Vietnamese traditional medicine

Promoting the branding of Vietnamese traditional medicine

Vietnamese traditional medicine is facing numerous opportunities as well as challenges in the context of deepening international integration and comprehensive reforms of the health system, said deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong.

Anh Duong – the first baby born at Sun Group International Hospital. (Photo courtesy of Sun Group International Hospital)

Sun Group International Hospital welcomes first baby

The eagerly awaited “first ray of sunshine” is a healthy baby girl named Sunny, who brings immense joy to her family and marks an unforgettable and inspiring milestone for the hospital and its dedicated obstetric team.