 |
| Image by Lena Helfinger from Pixabay |
台灣絕大多數的快篩試劑都是由國外進口，而其中大部分是從美國或南韓進口的。
美國食品藥物監督管理局（FDA）目前已經緊急使用授權20個快篩試劑廠牌，相關資訊即時更新中。於此同時，也發覺到市面上有假貨流通，並提供民眾購買辨識的方法。
為了便利大眾，民眾不需經過醫師開列處方（prescription），即可直接到藥局、藥妝店、超商或賣場等處購買自我醫療的藥物或試劑等，也就是無需處方可直接購買（Over the Counter，OTC）。
快篩試劑有２個重要關鍵的效力指標：
● 靈敏度（Sensitivity），能檢測出真陽性（True Positive）的程度，表示受測者有罹患疾病且檢驗結果也呈現陽性（前因後果一致吻合）。
● 特異性（Specificity），能檢測出真陰性（True Negative）的程度，表示受測者無罹患疾病且檢驗結果也呈現陰性（前因後果一致吻合）。
美國疫情新聞報導摘錄
2022.05.04At-Home COVID-19 Antigen Test Kits: Where to Buy and What You Should Know
By early April 2022, 17 rapid antigen tests had earned FDA emergency authorization for at-home use without a prescription. Using these tests frequently—for school attendance, before and after a large indoor gathering, prior to seeing a vulnerable person—can help reduce risk of spreading the coronavirus. For many people, it makes sense to keep at least a few of these tests on hand. Rapid tests were once hard to find, especially during the initial Omicron surge, but now they’re more widely available (and you can get free tests shipped to your home).
...
The FDA has granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to a growing number of rapid at-home COVID-19 tests that are available to shoppers, without a prescription, in pharmacies and online. Most at-home kits come with two tests and cost between $20 and $40—though a few, such as Acon’s Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test, come with only one test and cost about $10.
The accuracy of an at-home antigen test depends in part on test sensitivity (the test’s reported ability to detect a true positive), test specificity (its reported ability to detect a true negative), sample integrity (whether a swab contains enough sample or the swab solution is contaminated by, say, another pathogen), whether someone follows the manufacturer’s instructions exactly, the time since a person’s last known or suspected exposure and/or their onset of symptoms, and the person’s viral load at the time of testing. In general, these tests all have about the same ability to detect the virus, and you should feel comfortable using any of them to check whether you’ve contracted COVID-19, said Dr. Michael Mina, a former Harvard epidemiologist who is now the chief science officer for eMed, which sells a version of BinaxNow for certified results (such as for travel). Of note, in a recent and not yet peer-reviewed study of 700 people in San Francisco, the BinaxNow at-home tests were able to detect most people who were infected with the Omicron variant and were carrying high levels of the virus, The New York Times reported.
...
Source:《紐約時報（The New York Times）》
P.S. 完整原文新聞報導，請點擊標題連結
美國食品藥物監督管理局（Food and Drug Administration，FDA）
緊急使用授權快篩試劑清單
Live updatesAt-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests
The table below lists FDA-authorized at-home OTC COVID-19 diagnostic tests, and includes information on expiration dates, who can use the test, and other details that may help you decide what test is right for you.
點進連結，在網頁中間下方即可看見完整的緊急使用授權快篩試劑清單。
快篩試劑的相關訊息，從左至右羅列：
● Manufacturer and Test Name (Links to Instructions for Use)
（製造廠商及快篩試劑名稱，加上使用指南）
● Who can use this test: Symptoms（使用者症狀）
● Who can use this test: Age（使用者年齡）
● Other Details（其它細節）
● Expiration Date（有效期限）
Source: 美國食品藥物監督管理局（Food and Drug Administration，FDA）
P.S. 美國食品藥物監督管理局 FDA 相當於台灣衛生福利部食品藥物管理署
閱讀完上面的國際新聞時事，有哪些英文單字和片語是自己不懂或不熟的，可以做筆記。
（在英文新聞報導摘錄中，紫色超連結的英文單字為多益考試測驗核心字彙，點擊即可連結至該英文單字的網頁，學習相關語言知識及其用法。）
每回閱讀完國際英文新聞時事後，可用一支筆和一張紙或者使用記事本或筆記軟體記錄重要關鍵訊息，思索爬梳整理（中文或英文皆可，可練習應用所學的英文）。
下面提供可以思考及行動實踐的方向，持續從國際英文新聞時事中逐步獲取更充足完整正確的重要關鍵資訊和知識。
▲關於大流行病
疾病名稱？病毒種類？症狀？傳染來源？傳染途徑？潛伏期？傳染期？傳播力？威脅性？住院率？致死率？後遺症？預防措施？……
▲他山之石
● 美國發生了什麼？狀況、趨向、情勢如何？
● 美國政府做了什麼？缺乏什麼？忽略什麼？
● 美國民間做了什麼？缺乏什麼？忽略什麼？
▲回望省視
● 台灣發生了什麼？狀況、趨向、情勢如何？
● 台灣政府做了什麼？缺乏什麼？忽略什麼？
● 台灣民間做了什麼？缺乏什麼？忽略什麼？
▲自身能夠做的事
● 該做什麼準備？
● 為何要做個人防護措施？
● 如何做好個人防護措施？
0 Comments