E-commerce giant
A spokesperson at
"We are not halting sales because of concerns" over the test's accuracy, the spokesperson said.
The self-assessment kit, offered
No date has been set for resuming sales of the product,
The kit's polymerase chain reaction test determines whether a nose swab sample contains the RNA sequences specific to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus. Those who test positive still need to consult a doctor for confirmation.
Currently, PCR tests for the coronavirus are limited to those who have symptoms such as a fever of 37.5 C or higher for at least four days. The government is expanding testing capacity, but local health care centers face shortages of personnel and other resources to carry out tests.
Experts have doubted the accuracy of the test since the launch of sales, saying it is difficult for users to take nose swab samples.
"Testing negative does not prove that a person is not infected," he said. "If an infected person tests negative and commutes, it heightens the possibility of group infections," he said.
==Kyodo
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