 The FDA is working to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and keep you and your family informed on the latest developments. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions from consumers about diagnostic tests, at-home testing, and hand sanitizer. Q: How are people tested for COVID-19? A: Most tests to diagnose COVID-19 require a swab of your nose, or the part of the throat behind the nose, by a health care provider. Some tests use saliva (spit) or other types of samples. For most FDA-authorized tests, the swab or sample must be sent to a lab for analysis. Some tests allow people to collect the sample at home and then send it to a lab for analysis. Some tests can be analyzed at the point-of-care, such as in a doctor's office or health clinic. The FDA has also authorized some at-home tests that allow a person to collect their sample and run the test completely at home without sending anything to a lab. Some tests can be bought online or in a store without a prescription, but they may not be available everywhere. Learn more about Coronavirus Disease 2019 Testing Basics. Q: Are there any FDA-authorized at-home tests for COVID-19? A: Yes. There are now FDA-authorized COVID-19 diagnostic tests that can be used completely at home. At-home tests allow you to collect your own sample and test it with a system that gives you results in minutes at home. Additionally, the FDA has authorized some tests that allow you to collect your own sample and then send it to a lab for analysis. Q: Is hand sanitizer effective against COVID-19? A: The best way to prevent the spread of infections and decrease the risk of getting sick is by washing your hands with plain soap and water, advise the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is essential, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing one's nose. If soap and water are not available, CDC recommends consumers use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Q: Why has the FDA placed alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico on import alert? During the coronavirus pandemic, the FDA has seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products from Mexico that were labeled to contain ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol) but tested positive for methanol contamination. Methanol (or wood alcohol) can be toxic when absorbed through the skin and life-threatening when ingested. Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient in hand sanitizer. Recently, the FDA placed all alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico on a country-wide import alert to help prevent entry into the U.S. of potentially dangerous products until we can review the product's safety. FDA analyses of alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico found that 84 percent of the samples we analyzed from April through December 2020 were not in compliance with FDA regulations. To stay informed, visit the FDA's Hand Sanitizers and COVID-19 page. Also, take our hand sanitizer quiz. For more information about COVID-19, visit: | 
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