Coronavirus: If you notice this after using home COVID test kits, call for emergency

One of the biggest challenges during the pandemic was to get accurate COVID testing. As the positive cases started burgeoning, laboratories were overboard, resulting in pending diagnoses. People had to wait for days for their test results, leading to a delay in the treatment. The situation got a little better with the launch of the home testing kits. The hassle-free fifteen-minute COVID-19 testing kits prove to be quite helpful in providing results as soon as the first symptom appears. But now there is a rising concern in terms of using self-testing kits. As per a few reports gathered from several states of the USA, the self-testing kit can lead to poisoning.

According to a report published by USA Today, the country's poison center has warned about a dangerous chemical found in a self-testing kit that could lead to poisoning. It is reported that most of the self-testing contains the toxic substance sodium azide. The colourless, tasteless and odourless chemical, mostly used in car airbags and pest control is also present in some amount in these testing kits. The chemical triggers the chemical reaction, which helps to detect the presence of the virus.

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Although a clear instruction has been laid on the testing kit for its usage, there are chances one can accidentally ingest the chemicals. As per experts, sodium azide is a poisonous chemical and even an extremely low dose of it may lead to toxicity. Even a small portion of it on the skin can lead to skin irritation. Eye or nose burning are also common after coming in contact with these chemicals. Swallowing it can lead to dizziness, headache, heart palpitations and low blood pressure.

If you witness the symptoms after using the test kit do not take it lightly. Medically critical situation as this requires immediate medical attention. If your eyes, skin or nose are irritated after using the test kit, rinse to clean them properly for 15 to 20 minutes with warm water. If ingested in high quantities it can also lead to severe complications. However, it is believed that the testing kit does not contain enough sodium azide to cause severe complications.

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Although the testing kit contains only a small amount of the chemical, exposure to the chemical should not be taken lightly. Immediate medical attention is required to avoid any untoward event. As per the reports, the cases of poisoning from the testing kit are rising. In India, cases of poisoning have not been reported yet. But it is advised to be careful while using any testing kit.